Political career
Phukan was the Indian National Congress candidate for the Naharkatia seat in 1996, the same constituency her late husband had contested in 1991 but lost to Sashakamal Handique.[5] She defeated the incumbent member Sashakamal Handique. She polled 26333 votes, 44.12% of the constituency, defeating Handique by 30035 votes.[5]
She was again the Indian National Congress candidate for the Naharkatia seat in 2001. She polled 42765 votes, 65.94% of the constituency, defeating her nearest opponent by 30035 votes.[5] She was made Minister of State for Revenue and Cultural Affairs on 7 June 2002 and served until the 6 July 2004.[1]
In the 2006 Assam Legislative Assembly Election, she was reelected as the Indian National Congress candidate for Naharkatia. She received 40065 votes, defeating her nearest opponent by 19736 votes.[5]
On 31 May 2006, she was unanimously elected Deputy Speaker of Assam Legislative Assembly, becoming the first woman to hold the position.[6] She was led to the chair by Speaker Tanka Bahadur Rai, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and Leader of the Opposition Brindabon Goswami. She served until 16 May 2011.
In the 2011 Assam Legislative Assembly election, she was reelected for Naharkatia. She polled 35373 votes 41.58% of the total vote and she defeated her nearest opponent by 14397 votes.
Culture Minister
On 30 May 2011 she was made Minister for Sericulture, Handlooms, Textile and Cultural Affairs in the Tarun Gogoi cabinet. During her time as minister, she oversaw the consideration of the Charaideo Maidam as a UNESCO World heritage site.[7]
She resigned from her post on 19 January 2015, ahead of a cabinet reshuffle in the Tarun Gogoi cabinet.[8] She was later succeeded by Bismita Gogoi.[9]
Post-ministerial career
In the 2016 Assam Legislative Assembly election, she again sought reelection for Naharkatia. When asked about her seeking of reelection, she stated "the decision to contest was not an easy one … It was because of the insistence of my supporters that I could gather the courage to contest. " When asked about the likelihood of her reelection, she stated "the biggest achievement of my tenure was the upgradation of Naharkatia as a sub-division."[10] She received 42520 votes, losing to AGP candidate Naren Sonowal by 3531 votes.[5]
In the 2021 Assam Legislative Assembly Election, she was again the Indian National Congress candidate for Naharkatia. She received 32292 votes, placing second to BJP candidate Taranga Gogoi.[5]