The Opposition Congress is in a dilemma over whether to nominate former bureaucrat M.G.V.K. Bhanu for the Tezpur parliamentary seat.

Though Bhanu has emerged as the frontrunner for the seat, the significant Nepali population in the constituency has seen the party deliberate further since Nepali candidates have traditionally done well from Tezpur, Congress insiders said.

The ailing Mani Kumar Subba had been the Congress MP from Tezpur from 1998 to 2004, before losing the seat to the AGP’s Joseph Toppo. In 2014, the BJP’s R.P. Sharma, also a Nepali, won the seat by defeating the ruling Congress’ Bhupen Kumar Borah and the AGP’s Toppo, polling over 45 per cent votes.

Besides, the “decisive” Nepali population, about two lakh, in the constituency, another factor which is working against Bhanu is the “outsider” tag, a party insider said.

“The Congress is also deliberating whether fielding an outsider is worth it in these high-stake polls. The resignation of BJP MP Sharma, president of the Assam Gorkha Sanmilan, has also made the Congress think-tank weigh the benefit of going ahead with Bhanu at the expense of the Nepali community,” a party source said.

Bhanu, who hails from Andhra Pradesh, retired last year and joined the Congress. He had made a name for himself as the Sonitpur deputy commissioner.

“In 1985, I came to Assam and retired after 33 years, in 2018. Nobody made me feel like an outsider. I am an Assamese and wish to continue working for this place tirelessly even after retirement. I have a house in Tezpur. I shall stay there and work for the development of Assam and Tezpur till I die,” said Bhanu, who was welcomed into the Congress fold by its Assam unit president Ripun Bora. However, Congress sources said those backing Bhanu will have a lot of convincing to do to secure a ticket. The first batch of five nominees were announced on Friday night while the second batch of nominees are likely to be declared by Monday. Till then, Bhanu’s fate hangs in the balance.