Jorhat, May 5: Veteran Bharatiya Janata Party leader Hitendra Nath Goswami registered a decisive victory in the Jorhat Assembly constituency on May 4, defeating Gaurav Gogoi by a margin of over 23,000 votes.
The win marks Goswami’s sixth term in the Assam Legislative Assembly and underscores the effectiveness of his low-profile, grassroots-oriented campaign. A seasoned politician with more than three-and-a-half decades of experience, Goswami relied on his organisational strength and direct voter engagement, largely staying away from the media spotlight during the election campaign.
The result also halted Gogoi’s attempt to enter the state assembly for the first time. Currently serving as a third-term Member of Parliament from Jorhat in the Lok Sabha, the Congress leader had contested the Assembly polls amid high expectations but fell short against the BJP veteran.
Goswami, 67, began his political journey as a student activist during the Assam Agitation before joining the Asom Gana Parishad. He was elected three consecutive times from the Jorhat constituency as an AGP candidate starting in 1991 and later served as a minister in the AGP-led government between 1996 and 2001.
After parting ways with the AGP over differences with its leadership, he joined the BJP in 2014. Since then, he has maintained a strong electoral presence, winning the Jorhat seat in 2016 and retaining it in subsequent elections. He also served as Speaker of the Assam Legislative Assembly during his initial tenure as a BJP MLA, further strengthening his political credentials.
