Who is Kunki Chowdhury? AJP's Gen Z candidate to take on BJP veteran Vijay Kumar Gupta in Assam elections

GUWAHATI: With the firebrand energy of Gen Z and a motto of “real work on the ground”, 27-year-old Kunki Chowdhury is stepping into the political arena to challenge BJP’s seasoned cadre in the newly carved Guwahati Central constituency (earlier Guwahati West).

Armed with a master’s degree in educational leadership from University College London and a background rooted in community service, she now carries the hopes of the Congress-led opposition alliance into one of state’s most closely watched electoral battles. Congress’s key ally Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) has fielded Kunki, who completed her degree last year, against Vijay Kumar Gupta, who has worked for BJP for the last several decades.

Kunki pursued her bachelor’s degree in business administration with a specialisation in family business and entrepreneurship and then a master’s in educational leadership from the Institute of Education and Society, University College London.

Talking to TOI about her move to enter into politics, Kunki said, “I never imagined entering politics. For the past five to six years, I was involved with my family-run non-profit society, which manages several educational institutions across Assam. My work there kept me closely connected to the field of education and community service. When the opportunity came from AJP to contest from Guwahati Central, I felt it was the right moment to step forward. It offered a larger platform to serve and contribute more meaningfully to the people of Assam.”

Talking about choosing AJP over other political parties, she said AJP’s vision — captured in the motto “Assam first, forever and always” — deeply resonates with her, which aligns closely with her own commitment to work for the people of Assam and contribute to the state’s future. “Many political parties speak about identity. However, I feel BJP’s approach to identity often takes a more divisive tone. In contrast, AJP’s perspective is more inclusive,” she added.

Noting that money and power are often associated with politics, she said she believes politics is also about delivering real work on the ground. “Today, people in Assam are frustrated; they want genuine development and visible progress in their constituencies. I feel the alliance of Congress and five other political parties is committed to that purpose. Their vision is centred on working for the people and addressing their needs. With this approach, I am confident that we will put up a strong and meaningful fight,” she added.

Kunki said as far as development is concerned, basic public infrastructure still remains overlooked. She added that garbage management, drainage, primary healthcare, and govt schools have seen little real improvement and need better planning and resource allocation.

Being a Gen-Z candidate, Kunki feels that the candidates belonging to this generation bring fresh ideas and a new vision for the state as they think innovatively and approach issues with modern perspectives. “The older generation of leaders has certainly contributed a lot, but I’ve observed a growing gap between governance and the public. Younger leaders tend to be more present on the ground, more responsive, and more open to engaging directly with people,” she added.

On educational background, she said being well qualified is an added advantage for candidates or representatives, even though being highly-qualified is not the most essential requirement, as passion and commitment of a leader matter most.