Mahanta fights it out for seventh term

GUWAHATI: AGP's Prafulla Kumar Mahanta holds the double distinction of being Assam's youngest chief minister, who ruled the state for two terms, and of joining the league of the state's veteran politicians, who have thrown their hats in the poll ring for the highest number of times. He will be fighting for the seventh consecutive term.
AGP's Barhampur candidate Mahanta, who became the CM at the age of 33, was also the second youngest CM in the country after Arunachal Pradesh's Gegong Apang.He has been representing and winning from Barhampur constituency since 1985.
Though AGP has not been in power for a long time now, Mahanta has been a prime target of ruling Congress. After filing his nomination, Mahanta said, "The people of the state are upset with the misrule of the Congress government. They will welcome the AGP-BJP alliance and it will give a stable government. The change is irresistible."
However, Mahanta is not alone in the race. Fellow politician Phani Bhusan Choudhury, representing Bongaigaon constituency and Congress's heavyweight in the Barak Valley Gautam Roy, representing Katlicherra seat in Hailakandi district, have also completed six terms in their respective seats.
Bodo woman politician Pramila Rani Brahma of Bodoland People's Front (BPF) is the lone woman legislator of the state, who has completed five terms in the office representing Kokrajhar (East) constituency and is once again warming up for the poll battle this time.
Brahma had landed into controversy for reportedly making a statement that Muslims had not voted for BPF during the last Lok Sabha election. Her statement was believed to have triggered a series of riots in the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) area in 2014.
Three other Congress old horses - Sarat Borkotoky, Ardhendu Kumar Dey and Prithvi Majhi - are also in the race for the sixth time this election. They represent Sonari, Hojai and Lahowal seats respectively.
Tarun Gogoi belongs to the next rung of politicians along with nine other legislators, who will be in the poll fray for the fifth consecutive time. The CM first entered the assembly in 1996 after winning from Margherita constituency. He has been representing Titabar constituency in Jorhat district and has been the CM for three consecutive terms.
Gogoi has been termed as one of the most powerful Congress leaders of all times. He has claimed that his party will form the next government for the fourth term in a row and has also announced that he will be contesting the polls for the last time this year.
Besides Gogoi, prominent politicians like Gautam Bora, Pranati Phukan, Pradyut Bordoloi of Congress, Utpal Dutta of AGP, Gopi Das of AIUDF are battling it out in the poll arena for the fifth time.
Friends turn foes Rockybul Hussain and Himanta Biswa Sarma are emerging as the next generation politicians, who have completed three consecutive terms and are ready for the next. BJP's Padma Hazarika and state PWD minister Ajanta Neog feature in the same bracket.
"Veterans have continued to rule the state for a long time, but have failed to meet the expectations of youth," said Rahul, a young voter.