Guwahati, March 23 In a display of united strength by the ruling alliance, NDA candidates from four constituencies in Guwahati took out a rally through the city streets on Monday as they proceeded to file their nominations together.
BJP candidates Pradyut Bordoloi (Dispur), Diplu Ranjan Sharma (New Guwahati), and Vijay Gupta (Central Guwahati), along with their ally Asom Gana Parishad's (AGP) Tapan Das (Dimoria), led the rally.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is the candidate from the fifth seat in Kamrup Metropolitan district, which falls under the Guwahati Lok Sabha constituency.
Sarma had filed his nominations on Friday.
Supporters of the BJP and AGP had gathered at the Khanapara field in the city since morning, despite the overcast skies, their enthusiasm remained undeterred.
The candidates, seated in an open van, proceeded towards the District Commissioner's office in a procession, with supporters waving party flags and chanting slogans.
As per the guidelines issued by the authorities, the candidates will have to walk the final leg to the DC's office, along with a limited number of people.
The BJP had witnessed considerable dissent over its Dispur candidate, a Congress MP who had joined the saffron party just last week.
The sitting BJP MLA, Atul Bora, who was denied the ticket, had initially said that he might contest as an Independent or support the Congress nominee, but the top party leadership intervened and reassured him.
Another senior BJP leader, Jayanta Das, who was considered a strong contender, has resigned from the party and is likely to file his nomination as an Independent from the Dispur seat.
The elections for the 126-member Assembly will be held on April 9. The votes will be counted on May 4.
