Guwahati: Already sidelined in the party, former Assam Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta is facing a tough battle for his 'political existence' ahead of the Assembly polls scheduled in April.
Mahanta, a seven time Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) legislator from Barhampur constituency in Nagaon district, may have to sacrifice his forte this time--the AGP is likely to vacate the Barhampur seat to BJP, with whom the regional party is going to polls and likely to have a seat sharing arrangement for the 2021 assembly polls. Mahanta has been retaining the Barhampur seat since 1985.
While the former Chief Minister is keen to contest from the Berhampur seat on his party ticket in forthcoming polls, the BJP, on the other hand, is ready to offer a saffron ticket to Mahanta's son Shayamanta Kashyap from the constituency.
It may be mentioned here that Mahanta had been sidelined in AGP in the last few years for his anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) stand. Mahanta, a strong supporter of the regionalism, had also opposed the AGP-BJP alliance ahead of the 2016 assembly polls.
A senior AGP leader on condition of anonymity said that Mahanta had been losing popularity in the constituency. "As a political party, we must consider the chance of victory of the candidate before giving party ticket for contesting the elections. The BJP is keen to put up their candidate in Barhampur and as an alliance partner the party may decide to vacate the seat as their prospect of Mahanta's retaining the seat is negligible" said the AG leader.
It may be mentioned here that while Mahanta could poll 65,768 votes in Barhampur in 2015 polls, his nearest rival from Congress Suresh Bora could poll 60,599 votes. Mahanta did not respond to media queries and one of the close aides of Mahanta said that the two time former Chief Minister had left for New Delhi.
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