Assam's richest poll candidate seeks comeback

Entry of lottery baron Moni Kumar Subba, who is facing cheating and rape cases, into the fray as an Independent is likely to make the contest here an interesting one with the three-time former Congress MP banking on support of main opposition party AIUDF and the Nepali community to see him through.
Subba, who lost in 2009 to AGP's Joseph Toppo, was denied a Congress ticket for the cases pending against him, and could queer the pitch for the ruling party candidate Bhupen Bora.
Subba is the richest candidate in the state with Rs 306 crore of declared assets. Apart from serious cases against him, Subba's Indian citizenship is also under the scanner after a petition was filed in 2005 in the Apex Court alleging that he was a Nepali citizen who had fled from there after a case was registered against him in the early 70s.

The Supreme Court directed the CBI to inquire into the matter and the agency submitted a report stating that he obtained a birth certificate in a fraudulent manner, to which Subba had raised objections.
According to analysts, Bora, an MLA from Bihpuria in neighbouring Lakhimpur district, had an edge over the other candidates with the BJP-AGP alliance failing to come through and Toppo's prospects of retaining the seat appearing almost bleak.
The scenario, however, changed with Subba jumping into the fray as Independent on the last day of nominations, they said.

Following his filing of nomination, Congress expelled Subba for six years for anti-party activities.

AIUDF's support to Subba and a sizable electorate belonging to the Nepali community in this constituency located on the northern bank of Brahmaputra river may work in his favour, analysts added.
The constituency, where nine candidates are in fray including BJP's Ram Prasad Sarmah, will go to polls in the first phase on April 7.
Congress candidate Bora has been provided with additional security and asked by security forces to move in bullet proof vehicles during campaigning after his father claimed that the NDFB issued a threat to his son.