Saturday, May 18

Assam: Rakibul Hussain, Congress Candidate From Dhubri Constituency

Edited by Hiba Anvar

Indian National Congress has fielded Rakibul Hussain as its candidate from Dhubri constituency. Since 2021, Rakibul has been serving as the deputy leader of the opposition in the Assam Legislative Assembly. 

Earlier, Congress leader Rakibul Hussain while addressing the media took a dig at Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and stated that he could not be moved even if 50 Himantas stood before him. With the Congress leader being chosen as the candidate from the Dhubri seat, the future looms dark for Barpeta sitting MP Abdul Khaleque, who has allegedly failed to secure any berth in the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls. 

Since 2001, Rakibul has represented the Samaguri Constituency in the Assam legislative assembly. He has also served as the Minister of State for Home, Border Area Department, and Passport in the Tarun Gogoi government from 2002 to 2006.

Rakibul has also served as the Minister of State, Home, Political, Passport, HAJ, BAD, Information Technology, Printing and Stationery, Government of Assam in the Tarun Gogoi government from 2004 to 2006.

From 2011 to 2016, he served as the Minister of Forest and Environment and Panchayat and Rural Development, Government of Assam in the Tarun Gogoi ministry. While during 2006 to 2011, he served as the Minister of Environment and Forest, Tourism, Information and Public Relations, Printing, and Stationery in the Tarun Gogoi government. 

Hussain was General Secretary of the Assam Olympic Association and in 2015, he became President of the All India Carrom Federation.

By fielding the tallest leader in the state Congress from the minority community, Congress wanted a heavyweight candidate against sitting MP from Dhubri and AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal. Though the Congress has represented the Dhubri Lok Sabha seat for the longest time, the constituency has turned into a stronghold of the AIUDF.