Sootea MLA Padma Hazarika on Tuesday thanked BJP for not giving party ticket to sitting MP RP Sharma from Tezpur constituency. "I thank the party leaders for not giving the ticket to MP RP Sharma as his health condition is not stable," said Padma Hazarika.

MLA Hazarika also said, "After party denied ticket to RP Sharma, it was the Congress, who were more disappointed than BJP party workers." He slammed the Congress party of not looking after former MP Moni Kumar Subba, who has been suffering from prolonged illness.

The Sootea MLA also asked RP Sharma to take rest for at least a year before coming into public life.