HT Correspondent
HOJAI, March 20: The controversy over the BJP ticket for the 63rd Hojai Assembly seat in the upcoming Assam Assembly elections has come to an end with the party naming former MLA Shiladitya Dev as its candidate. The announcement sparked celebrations across Hojai, with party workers and supporters bursting firecrackers and raising slogans in his favour.
On Friday, a massive bike rally from Dimarupar welcomed the BJP candidate, which later turned into a grand procession across the town. Supporters raised slogans such as “Once again Modi government, once again BJP government in Assam” and expressed strong backing for Shiladitya Dev.
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Speaking to reporters during the rally, Shiladitya Dev thanked Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for giving him the ticket, stating that the Chief Minister had kept his promise after denying him a ticket in 2021. He said his candidature would accelerate development in Hojai and announced that he would file his nomination papers on March 23 at Srimanta Sankaradev Nagar.
Meanwhile, sitting MLA Ramkrishna Ghosh, who was denied the party ticket, expressed deep dismay over the decision. He said he could not “buy” a ticket by flattering anyone and questioned the party’s selection process. Ghosh termed it unfortunate that long-time BJP workers were being ignored while recent entrants from the Congress were being given tickets, also raising the issue of local versus outsider candidates.
