Former chief minister and the founder-president of regional party Asom Gana Parishad, Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, will not be contesting polls in the upcoming Assam assembly elections.

Mahanta’s wife and former Rajya Sabha member Jayashree Goswami Mahanta conveyed the news to the media on behalf of the veteran politician and former All Assam Students’ Union president.

The development is an outcome of Mahanta being denied the ticket from his stronghold Barhampur constituency. It is significant in Assam politics as he has represented  the seat for seven terms from 1985, having served as chief minister for two terms from 1985 to 90 and 1996 to 2001.

Mahanta’s wife said that by denying a ticket to her husband, the regional party has not only deviated from own its ideology, but also insulted the sacrifices of the martyrs of the Anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), expressing resentment over the “snub” by the regional party.

“As chief minister, Prafulla Mahanta had started the process of development in the state. They built the first two flyovers in Guwahati during his term. Now the incumbent government at the Centre has even started selling off Assam’s resources, be it oil and gas or the LGBI airport, to industrialists. Surely, Prafulla Mahanta cannot join hands with people who are only interested in their posts, be it in the ministry or remaining chairpersons of organisations,” Goswami said.

Protests triggered in Mahanta’s camp after AGP’s ally, the BJP, selected Jitu Goswami to contest the Assembly polls from Barhampur.

Mahanta has raised its voice against the CAA, something which would have played a part in the “snub”.