Guwahati, Mar 17 : With electioneering slowly intensifying in the state in view of the next months’ two phase assembly polls, corruption and price rise might upset the prospect of the ruling Congress party, which is seeking a third consecutive term to power. The opposition parties have identified corruption and price rise as two potential weapons to attack the Congress party.
The unearthing of a series of multi-crore scams in the fag end of the second term of the Tarun Gogoi government’s rule is making the Congress camp jittery. The scams, on the other hand, have come something like godsend for the opposition parties, particularly the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), which was desperately in search of a major poll plank to attack the ruling party during elections. The BJP, which has been buoyant in Assam since the last Lok Sabha elections, when it won 4 seats, too will be attacking the Congress on corruption and price rise grounds, besides the illegal Bangladeshi-immigration issue.
At least three multi-core scams, viz.; North Cachar Hills scam, Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council scam and Irrigation department scam, were unearthed in the state in last one year.
“Corruption and price rise will surely be high on our agenda. Corruption has gripped every department of the state during the Congress’ rule and people need to be said how the Congress party looted the public money,” said a senior office bearer of the BJP.
Accoriding to him, Varun Gandhi will be star campaigner in the state, in addition to Hema Malini and LK Advani.
Further, with essential commodities going through the roof, coupled with hike in petroleum prices, there is an anti-incumbency wave against the Congress party in the state, which the opposition parties are capitalising on.
The going for the Congress is expected to be further rough as the political arithmetic in the state has changed since 2006. The rise of All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), which has a good following in Mulsim dominated districts of Assam, is expected to play spoilsport for the Congress.
The AIUDF, which was a minimal force in 2006 assembly election, is expected to cut-across traditional Muslim votes of the Congress party this time. Congress’ alliance partner, the Bodoland People’s Party (BPF), too is keeping its card open by not going for any pre-poll alliance with the Congress party.
