Assam polls: BJP faces dissension in Bengali-dominated Barak valley

AGP chief Atul Bora has defended party decision for denial of ticket to one of the founding leaders and former Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, 
Bora said, "The party was not strong at his seat in Barhampur. Besides, Mahanta was not in contact with us after the last Lok Sabha elections when he refrained from exercising his democratic rights during the polls."

Mahanta has steadfastly opposed controversial Citizenship Amendment Act. 

BJP faces dissension in Bengali-dominated Barak valley

Denial of ticket to Silchar MLA, Dilip Kumar Paul and Kanad Purkayastha and his father veteran Kabindra Purkayastha expressing anguish has forced the BJP to do some damage control. In fact, Amit Shah's 'man for all seasons' Himanta paid a visit to Silchar and held crucial round of 'closed door' meetings with important stake holders.

Dilip Paul has decided to contest as an Independent candidate after he was pressurised by various local and Morcha units.

Another possible trouble centre could be Lakhipur. Rajdeep Goala has been denied ticket and instead the party has reposed faith on Kaushik Rai.

BJP's Borkhola MLA Kishor Nath is likely to file nomination from Algapur, a seat given to ally AGP.

Meanwhile, senior Congress leader and former minister Ardhendu Kumar Dey quit the Congress party and submitted his resignation letter to Assam Congress chief Ripun Bora. "For the immoral and dishonesty of some of the insiders in Congress party, it is not possible on my part to remain in the same party.

(Dey is from Hojai region)

Who is BJP's CM-face in Assam? 
There is no clear answer yet. 

"It's the prerogative of BJP's Parliamentary Board to decide the next Chief Minister," said Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal - yet again leaving the real question unanswered. Ticket distribution has suggested and given a general impression that perhaps Himanta Biswa Sarma is also in the race for the top post after the elections. In 2016, Sonowal was projected as BJP's chief ministerial face. Sonowal is himself a former AGP leader while Himanta joined BJP after quitting Congress.

But State BJP president Ranjeet Kumar Dass had retorted sharp: "Barring the media, I have not heard this question from anybody else in the party. Ours is a national party. It's the party high command that takes such decisions."

Following denial of poll tickets by BJP, two of its legislators, former Deputy Speaker Dilip Kumar Paul (Silchar) and Shiladitya Dev (Hojai) resigned from the party

While BJP has fielded Dipayan Chakraborty for the Bengali-domianted Silchar constituency, Paul has announced that he would contest as an independent candidate. The saffron party would now field Ramakrishna Ghosh from Hojai instead of Shiladitya Dev. 

After Diphu ticket was denied to him, state cabinet minister Sum Ronghang also resigned and has since joined the opposition Congress.