Guwahati: Gauhati East, one of the most important constituencies in the state with 100% urban voters, will see a tough fight between former state BJP president Siddhartha Bhattacharya and TV star Bobbeeta Sharma.
Although 12 candidates are in the fray for the seat, the main battle will be between Bhattacharya and Sharma.
Sharma, the former chairperson of Assam State Film Finance Development Corporation, is contesting the polls for the first time. However, the unimpressive performance of her predecessor, Robin Bordoloi, may go against her prospects. Bordoloi represented the seat for the last two terms.
Meanwhile, Bhattacharya, an advocate by profession, is contesting for the second time after losing the seat in the 2011 polls. Anti-incumbency against Congress can act as a saviour for Bhattacharya, as many in the constituency complain about Bordoloi's terms being unremarkable.
The constituency has 2,13,909 voters of which 1,05,628 are women. While Bhattacharya has vowed to bring 'change', Sharma has gone a step ahead and assured her voters that she would solve civic issues like the drinking water crisis. She has, in fact, released a separate manifesto for her constituency, focusing mainly on drinking water problems and artificial floods. Her manifesto also promises to take care of various development works under the public works department (PWD), Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) and Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA).
"Special measures should be taken to stop landslides in the hills with the help of large-scale plantations and drinking water problems should be solved permanently within two years. Apart from that, I also have a dream to promote the tourism potential of my city," Sharma added.
Bhattacharya, on the other hand, is confident of a win. He said people of his constituency were upset and felt hopeless in the absence of any development work. "Robin Bordoloi did not reach out to people. The constituency is tired of requesting his help. So, it's time for change," Bhattacharya told voters during an election meeting.
Majority of the candidates in the constituency are also highly qualified. While Bhattacharya has done an MA in economics from Gauhati University and holds a bachelor's degree in law, Sharma has a postgraduate degree from the same university.
On the other hand, Prodyut Kumar Bora of Liberal Democratic Party, the former convener of BJP's national IT cell, has done his bachelor's from St Stephen's before doing a postgraduate diploma from IIM-Ahmedabad.
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