Women leaders step forward, challenge Sonai’s all-male legacy | Guwahati News

Silchar: For a constituency that has never elected a woman MLA since independence, Sonai, one of Assam’s most underdeveloped assembly constituencies, has emerged as a centre of intense political activity ahead of the upcoming polls, with women aspirants from Congress and AGP seeking party tickets.Among the prominent contenders is Nazia Yasmin Mazumdar, general secretary of the Silchar district congress committee, who on Monday submitted her application for Congress’s ticket from the constituency. A computer science and engineering graduate from Regional Engineering College, Durgapur (2002 batch), Mazumdar said her decision was shaped by years of grassroots engagement and a commitment to inclusive politics.“This decision stems from sustained public service and the Congress’s commitment to women’s representation. I am contesting as someone who has worked consistently as an engineer, advocate and social activist,” Mazumdar said.A minority-dominated seat, Sonai is widely expected to witness a direct contest between Congress and AGP. Adding to the race, Ayesha Sultana Chaudhury, state general secretary of AGP’s women’s wing, has also applied for her party’s ticket.Sources said sitting MLA Karim Uddin Barbhuiya of AIUDF is likely to quit the party.amid indications of a sharp decline in its support base in Sonai and other minority-dominated areas. In the 2021 assembly elections, Karim Uddin had defeated BJP candidate Aminul Haque Laskar by 19,000 votes.In a further twist, Aminul Haque Laskar, a former deputy speaker of the assembly, recently joined Congress and is seeking nomination from Sonai. Senior Congress leader Aktar Hussain Barbhuiya, popularly known as Akka, has also filed his application.Sources said BJP is expected to back its ally AGP in Sonai, while AIUDF may stay out of the contest due to organisational weaknesses.