Congress Candidate Bidisha Neog Begins Campaign at Zubeen Garg's Cremation Site
In a symbolic and emotionally charged start to her electoral battle, Congress leader Bidisha Neog visited the cremation site of beloved Assamese singer Zubeen Garg in Sonapur on Saturday to seek blessings before formally launching her campaign. The Congress party had officially named Neog as its candidate from the Jalukbari constituency late Friday night, setting up a direct contest against Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
"Justice for Zubeen" as Central Campaign Theme
Bidisha Neog, a relatively new entrant to the Congress party and the only prominent leader to seek a ticket against the formidable Himanta Biswa Sarma, declared that "Justice for Zubeen" would be the central theme of her campaign. She made this announcement while speaking to supporters and media at Zubeen Kshetra, the site where the iconic singer was cremated.
"People are deeply upset with the present government, which has completely failed to deliver justice to Zubeen da," Neog stated emphatically. "Since I am contesting on behalf of the common people of Assam, we will strongly and relentlessly fight for justice for him. While Zubeen da himself is above all politics, justice for him will definitely be the main plank of my campaign as it represents the primary demand of the people of Assam today."
Allegations Against the BJP Government
Neog leveled serious allegations against Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). She claimed that Himanta had previously stated there was no need to vote for the BJP until Zubeen Garg received proper justice, but she asserted that the party had subsequently failed to keep this promise to pursue justice for the beloved singer.
"The BJP government made commitments to the people regarding justice for Zubeen da, but those promises remain unfulfilled," Neog added. "This has created widespread disappointment among the citizens of Assam who cherished Zubeen da not just as a singer but as a cultural icon."
Challenging a Political Heavyweight
Himanta Biswa Sarma has represented the Jalukbari seat in Guwahati continuously since 2001, when he defeated former home minister and prominent Assam agitation leader, the late Bhrigu Kumar Phukan. Despite Sarma's long-standing dominance in the constituency, Bidisha Neog expressed confidence in her ability to mount a serious challenge.
"Although I joined Congress approximately three years ago and have no prior experience in any other political party, I firmly believe the chief minister is not unbeatable despite his considerable political strength," Neog declared. She emphasized that her campaign would focus on substantive issues affecting the constituency.
Additional Campaign Issues and Local Concerns
Beyond the justice for Zubeen Garg platform, Neog outlined several other key issues that would form the foundation of her campaign. "People losing their land in the name of urbanization and city expansion under the BJP-led government in Jalukbari, combined with the politics of hatred and communalism, will be my primary poll planks," she explained.
Neog, who is both a resident and voter of Jalukbari herself, claimed to enjoy significant support from the constituency's younger generation. She expressed optimism about helping Congress regain political ground in an area where the party suffered a substantial defeat in the previous election.
Historical Context and Electoral Challenges
In the 2021 Assam assembly election, Congress candidate Romen Chandra Borthakur received 28,851 votes in Jalukbari, while Himanta Biswa Sarma registered a landslide victory with an overwhelming margin exceeding one lakh votes. Sarma secured 1,30,762 votes in the constituency during that election, demonstrating his formidable electoral strength.
Despite these historical voting patterns, Neog remains undeterred. "Though the people of Jalukbari may appear silent on the surface, they are genuinely angry at Himanta Biswa Sarma," she asserted. "The residents of Jalukbari are thinking about the entire state of Assam, and that is precisely why they believe it has become necessary to remove him from this constituency."
A Broader Vision for Assam
During her visit to Zubeen Kshetra earlier in the day, Bidisha Neog reflected on the significance of her candidacy. "I feel profoundly fortunate to represent the Congress party from Jalukbari," she said. "Our fight in Jalukbari is not merely a personal contest against an individual. It represents a much larger struggle to build Bor Asom (Greater Assam) and to combat the pervasive corruption that has affected our state."
Neog's campaign launch at the cremation site of Zubeen Garg has created immediate political buzz in Assam, blending cultural symbolism with electoral politics in a state where the singer remains an immensely popular figure years after his passing. The coming weeks will reveal whether this emotionally charged campaign strategy can translate into electoral success against one of Assam's most powerful political figures.
