Veteran against rookie in Bilasipara (W)

Guwahati: In the second phase of assembly election, the oldest contender running in the election is all set to take on the youngest. The candidates, CPI leader Gias Uddin Ahmed (87) and Ajmira Aktar (25) of Jan Congress, are both contesting the Bilasipara (West) seat.
Ahmed, who conducted more than one poll rally, on Thursday told TOI, "I am not tired.I am not fighting against young contenders but against the current political and socio-economic crisis in the state. I am fighting because it's essential to have representatives of leftist ideology in the state assembly for the betterment of the people of the state." Ahmed won the seat in 1991.
Age became a talking point when Prime Minister Narendra Modi and chief minister Tarun Gogoi sparred over the CM's age. Modi called taunted Gogoi for being 'old' and the latter hit back with 'old is gold'.
Gogoi (79) featured among the veterans in the first phase. Independent candidate Premadhar Bora (82), contesting Lakhimpur district's Bihpuria seat, was the oldest in the first phase.
A report released by Assam Election Watch (AEW) and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) said that out of total 523 candidates in the second phase, at least 334 candidates are below 50 years. "In the second phase, 37 candidates are in the age group of 25-30," the report said. To contest in the assembly election, one must be at least 25 years old. "At least 114 are between 31-40 years. At least 183 others are between 41-50 and 123 are aged between 51-60," the report added. Five candidates aged between 71-80 are also fighting to secure a berth in the state assembly.
The report also added that in the following phase, 231 (44%) candidates have declared their education qualification as being between 5th and 12th standard, while 278 (53%) candidates have declared having an educational qualification of graduate or above, including five doctorate degree holders. Two candidates have declared themselves to be illiterates. Of the total contestants in this phase, only 48 (9%) are female candidates.