Only 7.84 pct women contestants in Assam polls

38 women contestants have been fielded from various political parties besides Independent candidates.

Women candidates comprise only 7.84 per cent of the total 485 aspirants in fray for 62 constituencies in the first phase of polling in Assam today.

The 38 women contestants,including a minister and the Deputy Speaker of the state Assembly,have been fielded from various political parties besides Independent candidates,EC sources said.

The majority of 12 contestants are from the ruling Congress,followed by 10 from BJP and 2 from main Opposition Asom Gana Parishad.

The other political parties who have given tickets to women candidates are NCP 4,SUCI(Communist) and Trinamool Congress 2 each,besides Samajwadi Party and CPI-M 1 each. Four women are trying their electoral luck as independents.

Among the Congress nominees are PWD Minister Ajanta Neog from Golaghat,Deputy Speaker Pranati Phukan from Naharkatia and former minister Amiya Gogoi from Duliajan.

The Congress kin in the fray today include sitting MLA and former Assam minister Ripun Bora’s wife Monika at Gohpur,ex-union minister Paban Singh Ghatowar’s wife Jibontara at Moran and his former Cabinet colleague Santosh Mohan Dev’s daughter Sushmita from Silchar.

Former Assam minister Jiba Kanta Gogoi’s daughter-in-law Bismita is in the fray for Khumtai and former minister Rashidul Haque’s daughter-in-law Salma Jesmin from Rupohihat.

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BJP expelled MLA Rumi Nath is contesting as a Congress candidate from Barkhola.

For the AGP,Khumtai sitting MLA Probin Gogoi’s wife

Upasana is contesting in his place,while sitting MLA Alaka Desai Sarma,widow of former minister Nagen Sarma,is seeking re-lection from Nalbari.

Also in the fray is Supriya Rani Brahma,wife of former Bodoland Peoples Council chief Prem Sing Brahma.

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The current Assembly has 10 women legislators in a House of 126.

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