Activist Akhil Gogoi, who has been in jail since December 2019 on charges of sedition and inciting violence during protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act in Assam, has won the Assembly election from Sivasagar.
Akhil, who contested as an Independent, won by a margin of 11,875 votes over his nearest rival Surabhi Rajkonwari of the BJP. Akhil received 57,244 votes to Surabhi’s 45,344.
The Congress, who have won the Sivasagar seat since 2001, came a poor third. The Congress candidate, Subhramitra Gogoi, managed 19,329 votes. The other candidates in the fray were Ajit Hazarika of the NCP, Independent candidate Hemanta Boruah and social activist Rupa Borah.
Assam election results: Anti-CAA activist Akhil Gogoi first in state to win polls from jail
The founder of the newly floated Raijor Dal arrested in December 2019 over sedition charges bagged 57,219 votes as an Independent, garnering support from 46.06 per cent of the electorate.
Share Via Email
| A+A A- By PTI
SIBSAGAR: Jailed anti-CAA activist Akhil Gogoi became the first Assamese to win an election without hitting the campaign trail, as he clinched the Sibsagar constituency, defeating his nearest rival Surabhi Rajkonwari of the BJP by a decisive 11,875 votes.
The founder of the newly floated Raijor Dal arrested in December 2019 over sedition charges bagged 57,219 votes as an Independent, garnering support from 46.06 per cent of the electorate.
Akhil Gogoi won because he identified with the indigenous sentiments. People considered him as their spokesperson, Rahman Barbhuiya told PTI.
SIBSAGAR: Jailed anti-CAA activist Akhil Gogoi became the first Assamese to win an election without hitting the campaign trail, as he clinched the Sibsagar constituency, defeating his nearest rival Surabhi Rajkonwari of the BJP by a decisive 11,875 votes.
The founder of the newly floated Raijor Dal arrested in December 2019 over sedition charges bagged 57,219 votes as an Independent, garnering support from 46.06 per cent of the electorate.
The Congress, which had initially backed the Raijor Dal chief, ended up giving ticket to Subhramitra Gogoi, who came third in the contest.
In a first in Assam polls, rights activist Akhil Gogoi wins from jail
Gogoi s 84-year-old mother Priyoda Gogoi and son Nasiketa had spearheaded his election campaign before the first phase of elections in eastern Assam on March 27.
By IANS| Posted by Mansoor | Updated: 3rd May 2021 10:48 pm IST Akhil Gogoi (file photo)
Guwahati: Jailed anti-CAA activist and prominent peasant leader Akhil Gogoi has become the first lawmaker in Assam to win an election from jail after his octogenarian mother and prominent rights leaders of the country campaigned for him.
Without hitting the poll campaign, 46-year-old Gogoi clinched the Sibsagar constituency, defeating his nearest BJP opponent Surabhi Rajkonwari by a decisive margin of 11,875 votes.
Akhil Gogoi first in Assam to win election from jail
SECTIONS
Last Updated: May 03, 2021, 04:36 PM IST
Share
Synopsis
The RTI activist, in an attempt to reach out to the people of the state, wrote several open letters from jail, highlighting problems that need to be addressed. Gogoi won because he identified with the indigenous sentiments. People considered him as their spokesperson, Rahman Barbhuiya told .
Jailed anti-CAA activist Akhil Gogoi became the first Assamese to win an election without hitting the campaign trail, as he clinched the Sibsagar constituency, defeating his nearest rival Surabhi Rajkonwari of the BJP by a decisive 11,875 votes.