As the election in Assam approaches, Suren Daimari, the Congress candidate for the Udalguri constituency, announced on Wednesday that he has withdrawn from the race and left the party, citing insufficient support during his campaign.

The 73-year-old Daimari mentioned that he has not yet formally notified the Election Commission. An election official indicated that, with the deadline for candidate withdrawal set for March 26, Daimari’s name will still appear on the electronic voting machines, allowing voters to cast their ballots for him.

A Congress spokesperson downplayed Daimari’s announcement, noting that he has not submitted an official resignation to the party. The spokesperson explained that the party did not prioritize Udalguri as a winnable seat, which may have contributed to Daimari’s dissatisfaction.

Daimari revealed that he joined the Congress party in January of this year, motivated by the desire to strengthen its presence in Udalguri, an area where the party has struggled for years. He initially did not seek a nomination but eventually received one.

Expressing his disappointment, Daimari stated, “I aimed to bolster Congress in Udalguri, but I did not receive any assistance. I feel hurt, and that has led me to resign today. The support I expected from the party, particularly from the district office and its members, was lacking. The funding for my campaign was insufficient, and due to this lack of support, I have chosen not to contest and to part ways with the party.”

Earlier that day, he accused the Congress of “betraying” him, emphasizing that there had been a complete lack of communication and support from party leadership following his nomination.

The main competition in Udalguri, which is designated for Scheduled Tribes in the Bodoland Territorial Region, is set to be between Dipen of the United People’s Party Liberal and Rihon Daimary of the Bodoland People’s Front.