After R P Sarmah’s resignation from the BJP, union minister of state for railways and sitting BJP MP from Nagaon, Rajen Gohain dropped another bombshell on Saturday that he will not contest the ensuing Lok Sabha election.
Also read: Tezpur MP R P Sarmah quits BJP over likely denial of party ticket for LS poll
He said that the criminal charges against him and the criminal cases can hamper the prospects of the BJP party.
Interacting with media in New Delhi, Gohain was of the view that as there are allegations and charges against him, he will not contest the election until and unless he is acquitted in all the charges.
He, however, maintained that he will be actively participating in the election campaigns in the State to help the party in every possible way.
According to sources, Gohain who is known to be close with the BJP national leadership and the RSS has managed to enlist his wife Rita Gohain in the expected candidates’ list for the Lok Sabha elections.
Notably, a case was filed under sections 417 (punishment for cheating), 376 (rape) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) against the minister at the Nagaon Sadar police station for allegedly raping and threatening a 24-year-old married woman in Deurigaon area of Nagaon district.
Tezpur parliamentarian R P Sarmah had earlier in the day announced his resignation from the primary membership of the BJP as he very unlikely to be given the ticket for this election.
The BJP in all probability will bestow the ticket of the prestigious Tezpur parliamentary seat to state finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
Likewise, murmurs were doing the rounds that Rajen Gohain’s candidature is also uncertain and new face Rupak Sharma may contest from Nagaon.
Earlier, Gohain had gone on record while expressing his displeasure over the developments in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections.
He was even heard talking to media that it will be ‘really unfortunate’ if he was denied the ticket.
He also said in public that he had brought Rupak Sarma into politics.
He had even claimed earlier that more majority of the grassroots workers in the constituency will not cooperate with a new candidate.