High voltage poll campaign kick started by Dilip, Dipayan & Tamal for the prestigious Silchar seat

March 14: The battle of ballots for the prestigious Silchar Assembly seat is going on in full swing. This assembly constituency will go for the polls during the second phase on 1 April, 2021. A total of 19 candidates submitted their nomination forms for contesting the elections in 09-Silchar Assembly constituency. March 12 was the last date for submitting the nominations. For the 2nd phase of polls, scrutiny of nomination will be done on 15 March & the last date of withdrawal of nomination is 17 March.

However, the candidates without waiting for the scrutiny of nomination have jumped into the battlefield and are busy in door to door campaign, ward meetings, visiting markets & offices. Since the submission of nomination, much enthusiasm could be noticed among the supporters of Tamal Kanti Banik of Congress, Dipayan Chakraborty of BJP and Independent candidate Dilip Kumar Paul.

Firing bullets of allegation against his former party (BJP), Dilip Kumar Paul has caught the attention of many by raising the slogan “Khela Hobe.” The huge number of supporters who accompanied this former BJP leader on the day of nomination became the talk of the town. He raised severe allegation against his former party colleagues to be involved hand and gloves in running the syndicate. Acclaimed as the messiah of anti-corruption camp, Dilip Paul is striving hard to use his past performance in claiming votes this time.

For Congress, their main plus point seems to be their candidate Tamal Kanti Banik, who though for a brief stint, but adorned the covetous position of Chairperson of Silchar Municipal Board. Congress is hopeful that the charismatic personality of Tamal Banik will help them win the support of the voters. The last two Assembly elections contested by Arun Dutta Majumdar and Bithika Dev has been nightmares for the grand old party. Congress is hoping to regain the Silchar seat this time riding on the popularity of Tamal Kanti Banik.

BJP’s candidate Dipayan Chakraborty is also very much in the race. Though his candidature was questioned by many within the party circles including the party patriarch Kabindra Purkaystha and Dilip Kumar Paul, yet this has not dampened the spirit of the supporters of Dipayan. Showing magnanimity, he has sought the blessings of Kabindra Purkayastha before filing nomination. BJP is moving ahead relying much on the strength of their “Lotus” symbol and the face of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The fight for the Silchar seat, therefore seems to be too tough and also too difficult to project anything atleast at this stage. Though Dilip Kumar Paul has said that his fight is against Tamal Kanti Banik of Congress, yet in reality it seems to be a triangular battle of ballots. All three of them have got fair chances to win the Silchar seat. It is hoped that the high voltage campaign will begin after the date of withdrawal of nominations (17 March). Dilip Paul with his rich experience, Tamal Kanti Banik with his charismatic personality and Dipayan Chakraborty with the added advantage of having the ‘lotus’ symbol will be the talk of Silchar constituency in the coming days. So who will have the last smile? Well, it is for the electorates to decide the future leader of Silchar.