Guwahati: Exuding confidence of winning the "required number of seats to form the next government in Assam", the BJP state unit on Saturday said the party had given representation to all communities, including minority, in its candidates list for the assembly polls.
"This time people want change from the Congress Tarun Gogoi government. We will get the required number of seats in next month's assembly polls to form the next government in Assam", BJP state unit president Ranjit Dutta, MLA, told reporters here.
Deciding to go it alone to fight against "corruption by the Congress government" in the upcoming assembly hustings in the two-phased elections scheduled for April 4 and 11 next, Dutta said, "people will vote in favour of the BJP to form the next government".
Stating that candidates from all communities will be given tickets by the saffron party for the polls, Dutta said, they would include a minority contestant, eight women, seven scheduled tribe, six tea tribes, three scheduled caste and two each from Nepali community and BJYM.
Accusing the ruling Congress of "failing to give an opportunity to indigenous Assamese Muslims to contest the polls", Dutta said, "in upper Assam we will put up an Assamese Muslim contestant".
"There are media reports that the BJP has a secret seat- sharing deal with other political parties as our `party is weak in certain constituencies'. I clarify there will be no future alliance or secret understanding with any political party. We will contest in all the 126 seats".
GUWAHATI: Illegal migrants have always been a cause of concern in Assam and during every election political parties make the issue their poll plank. And barely a month ahead of this year's assembly elections, the Centre has said Assam deported 43 illegal migrants to their "places of origin" in the last 15 months.
In a reply to Lok Sabha member Badaruddin Ajmal (AIUDF), Union minister for home affairs Mullapally Ramachandran said altogether 162 foreigners and illegal migrants were deported between December 2009 and February, while 43 persons were sent back to their "places of origin".
The minister added that the Assam government has set up three detention camps in Goalpara, Kokrajhar and Silchar "to keep the declared illegal migrants and foreigners in the state till they are deported". According to the state government's report, 2,354 declared foreigners have been deported to Bangladesh till the end of 2010.
Some organisations, including the All Assam Students' Union (Aasu), alleged that illegal migrants coming from Bangladesh have been living in Assam for decades and threatening the state's demography. Incidentally, Aasu had started the six-year agitation seeking detection and deportation of the illegal migrants from 1978 that ended in the signing of Assam Accord in 1985.
According to the organization, lakhs of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants are still living in Assam whom the state government couldn't identify and deport during the last two decades. Aasu even accused the Congress government, encouraging illegal migrants for vote-bank politics. But despite the Assam Agitation, the issue continues to remain alive with the Centre unable to complete the fencing of the porous Indo-Bangla border.
In the Nineties, the government said IMDT Act stood as a hindrance in the detection and deportation of the foreigners. Even though, a judgment by the Supreme Court in 2007 withdrew the act and cleared the way for deportation of the illegal migrants in the state, the situation remained unchanged.
Congress faces no real opposition, he says
By Ajay Jha
New Delhi: Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi on Friday exuded confidence about his Congress party emerging victorious yet again in the upcoming state legislative assembly elections.
Assam along with four other states is scheduled to go to the polls starting next month.
"There is no opposition in the state. AGP [Asom Gana Parishad] and BJP [Bharatiya Janata Party] are in bad shape. We defeated them in [2009] Lok Sabha elections and will do it again," Gogoi said while interacting with media at the Press Club of India.
The autonomous election commission has announced two-phased polling in Assam, which has been under Congress rule for the past ten years with Gogoi as the chief minister.
Gogoi's confidence about a non-existent opposition in the state, however, is not shared by the central leadership of the Congress party.
Results of an internal survey conducted by a professional agency show that the party may end up winning just 42 seats in the 126-member state assembly, compared to 65 seats the AGP-BJP combine which will get the present opposition simple majority.
The only way the party can emerge victorious is if it forms an alliance with the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF).
* An initiative by the Government of Assam to enhance PC adoption among students in the state
* Multi-crore deal to provide 7200 units of HCL ME laptops
* To deploy systems for consolidation of the BSNL billing process across North & West Zone
HCL Infosystems has bagged a multi-crore deal from Assam Electronics Development Corporation Ltd (AMTRON) to provide 7200 units of HCL ME laptops.
This initiative by AMTRON is an integral part of the existing ‘Anundoram Borooah Award Scheme’ by the Government of Assam set out to honour meritorious students of the state. HCL Infosystems will be partnering with the state government and will be providing HCL ME Laptops designed for Indian conditions and supported by one of the largest HCL service and support network in the country today.
As a part of this initiative, Education Department (Secondary), Information & Technology Department under Government of Assam will be awarding laptops of the latest configuration to honour meritorious students of the state. AMTRON will distribute these laptops across the district headquarters of Assam to all students who have secured first division in the HSLC, High Madrassa, Sanskrit and Pali Pravesika and FM (Sr. Madrasa) Examinations, 2010 conducted by SEBA and State Madrassa Education Board, Assam.
JV Ramamurthy, President and COO, HCL Infosystems said, “India, being a growing economy, needs to propel PC penetration and truly democratize access to broadband to realize its potential as a knowledge economy.”
HCL Infosystems also won a Rs. 250 crore project from Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) for deploying a state-of-the-art facility for printing and managing BSNL customer bills. The company will also be making the entire capital investment to upgrade the existing systems for higher efficiency.
HCL Infosystems will be managing the BSNL’s billing system process for two zones - North Zone and West Zone and would extend over a period of 7 years. The company will be setting up the facility equipped with sophisticated printing solutions for transactional output with the most advanced hardware and software solutions. The project will entail a complete transformation and automation of BSNL’s bill printing mechanism thereby adding greater efficiency in reaching out to its subscribers.
Commenting on the occasion, J V Ramamurthy, President and COO, HCL Infosystems said, “In the rapidly emerging space of telecom we have developed a host of system integration solutions and this project win from BSNL. We are excited about this opportunity and look forward to expand our areas of operation through more solutions added to our offerings”
Guwahati, Mar 4 (PTI) Assam Chief Electoral Officer Hemanta Narzary today constituted a three-member grievances committee to look into all election related complaints during the upcoming Assembly polls.
The three-member committee will entertain complaints or grievances of all political parties, candidates or any other persons in regard to the decision to grant or refuse certification of an advertisement of political nature, official sources said.
The committee comprises of the Assam Chief Electoral Officer as the chairperson, an observer appointed by the Election Commission and the Director of Field Publicity, Assam, Government of India.
Assembly polls in Assam will be held in two phases with 62 constituencies going to polls on April 4 and the remaining 64 on April 11.
NEW DELHI: BJP on Thursday announced the second list of 54 candidates for the assembly polls in the state. The BJP's Central Election Committee (CEC), at a meeting chaired by party chief Nitin Gadkari, cleared the names of nominees.
Ananth Kumar, the secretary of the CEC, said BJP will contest all 126 seats in the elections. Another meeting of the CEC is scheduled to be held on for March 9. Last month, the party had declared six candidates for the state polls.
The names of the nominnes are Sukhendu Shekhar Dutta (Patharkandi), Shipra Goon (Karimganj South), Biswarup Bhattacharjee (Badarpur), Subrata Nath (Hailakandi), Awadesh Singh(Sonai), Surendra Prasad Singh (Udharbond), Rina Singh (Lakhipur), Bijaylaxmi Chakraborty (Barkhola), Kulendra Daulagapu (Haflong-ST), Padma Mybongsha (DiphuST), Doyamoee Syanal (Dhubri), Biswajit Roy (Gauripur), Mani Koch (Bongaigaon), Ranjit Das (Sorbhog), Kartik Sarmah (Bhabanipur), Manoranjan Das (Patacharkuchi), Upendra Chandra Arya (Jania), Chanakya Pathak (Sarukhetri), Jiten Sarkar (Boko-SC), Ranjit Rahang (Dispur), Pradip Thakuria (Rangiya), Diban Deka (Barkhetry).
GUWAHATI: The North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council (NCHAC) has condemned law enforcing authorities for failing to put a halt to violence by unidentified miscreants in Haflong of Dima Hasao district. The NCHAC officials also expressed concern over the persistence of the situation in the area which might disrupt the assembly elections in April.
Haflong has seen several incidents of violence during the last few days. A grenade was defused on Thursday morning at the residence of Mayanon Kemprai, an executive member of the Haflong council. Another grenade attack was reported from the house of Subrata Hojai, an executive member, on Wednesday.
"We condemn such acts of miscreants who are trying to disturb peace in the district. The more serious concern is that no one has been able to nab the culprits. Security mechanisms and the state government have failed to curb crime in the area," said the chairman of the council, Depolal Hojai, addressing a press meet in the city on Thursday. "We want an immediate solution to the problem. The law enforcement agencies and the central government should find a permanent solution to check the formation of groups that can disturb peace in the district and affect development work here," Hojai said urging the central government to expedite the process of peace talks.
GUWAHATI: Tarun Gogoi is confident of capturing Dispur for three times in a row as he has led the Congress to victory in almost all elections starting from panchayat to parliament since 2001. But 2011 is not an easy ride for the chief minister of Assam.
Though Gogoi still commands respect among common people, his failure to control corruption in various government departments has become his biggest drawback. But Congress still has an edge over others with the opposition parties are unable to form a united front to challenge the ruling party and the EC already announcing the election dates.
As electioneering proceeds, the situation, however, may change with three other major players AGP, BJP and the Maulana Badaruddin Ajmal-led AIUDF who may plot Gogoi's downfall.
The Congress still runs strong in its traditional bastion of Upper Assam with Gogoi leading from the front and also exploiting the ongoing peace process with Ulfa. However, Congress's success or failure also lies in its performance in this tea-oil rich belt where BJP, of late, has been plotting whatever it can to end Gogoi's rule. With former AGP MP and Aasu leader Sarbanada Sonowal joining the saffron party, BJP is hoping for a "change" in Upper Assam. And, if Gogoi fails to keep his bastion intact, Dispur may change hands.
Ulfa commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah can also play havoc for Congress if security forces failed to tame the hardliners who are opposed to the peace process initiated by the chief minister. Though Congress has managed to weaken Badaruddin Ajmal by creating a division in minority politics, it has to be seen how the Maulana retaliated. After his expulsion from the Arshad Madani faction of Jamiat, Ajmal split the Assam Jamiat and switched loyalty to the Mahmood Madani faction. A wounded Ajmal could pose more danger.
Congress ally BPF is sure to keep its base intact, but its support would depend on the former's final tally. Last but not the least is Prafulla Kumar Mahanta a man who has always plotted Congress's defeat.
Guwahati, Mar 3 (PTI) About 100 companies of para military forces will arrive in Assam before the two-phase assembly poll next month.
Chief Electoral Officer Hemanta Narzary said the para military forces would be deployed in all 125 constituencies to maintain law and order for free and fair polls.
Election will be held in 11,254 polling stations in the first phase on April 4 and in 12,557 polling stations in the second phase on April 11.
A total 1.81 crore electorate will exercise their franchise, he said.
Narzary said the EC will keep a strict watch on election expenditure by candidates and has demarcated a six-layer process.
There will be an expenditure observer and additional expenditure observer, B D O surveillance team, accounting team, shadow observation and static surveillance team, he said.
Besides, one officer would be posted in the Director General and Police office to report to the Election Commissioner, he added.
Guwahati, Mar 2: The Central Vigilance Committee on Public Distribution System (PDS), headed by Justice D P Wadhwa, is scheduled to visit different parts of Assam beginning on Thursday.
Justice Wadhwa, who will be accompanied by senior Committee functionaries, will visit field offices and hold discussion with senior Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs officers.
It has been reported that the Committee will inspect files and documents on appointment of 'Fair Price Shop' dealers and commission payable, complaint and enforcement mechanism for the last five years and award of tenders for transportation of food grains.
The Committee will also go through the problems that are affecting the proper functioning of Public Distribution System in Assam and suggest corrective measures.
Guwahati, March 2 (IANS) Assam's main opposition Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) Tuesday voiced unhappiness over the two-phase poll schedule announced for the state, saying the party would have preferred four-phased assembly elections instead.
Chief Election Commissioner S.Y. Quraishi Tuesday announced in New Delhi the poll schedule for five states. Assam will have a two-phased polling with the first phase covering 62 assembly seats on April 4 and the remaining 64 seats on April 11. Counting of votes takes place May 13.
'We are not at all happy with the poll schedule as we gave in writing to the Election Commission seeking a four-phased election. Considering the fact that Assam is an insurgency-prone state and there is serious law and order problem, there could be difficulties in conducting the vote in two phases,' AGP president Chandra Mohan Patowary told IANS.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the ruling Congress party in Assam have welcomed the poll schedule.
'We welcome the poll schedule and the party is ready to face the mandate. We shall put up candidates in all the 126 assembly seats,' BJP Assam state president Ranjit Dutta said.
'We are confident and ready for the polls and am sure the Congress party would make a hat-trick by winning the assembly elections for the third straight term,' Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said.
The term of the Congress government expires May 28.
GUWAHATI: The assembly election is on April 4 and the state's main opposition party has taken the cyber way to fight the ruling Congress.
In its newly designed website, AGP has arranged an online debate against Congress rule. It also shows digitally how the geographical boundaries of the state have changed under Congress rule.
The reduction in geographical area of the map starts with the formation of Tripura Union Territory on July 1, 1963 and then Nagaland on December 1 the same year. This is followed by formation of Meghalaya, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh in 1972 and Mizoram in 1973 all under Congress rule. In its site, AGP says the changing geographical map of the state is due to Congress's "misrule". The party has also started an online discussion forum where different subjects related to the state have been put under debate. This includes unemployment, big dam projects and scam in NC Hills Council.
The home page of the party's website says, "We came to power in December, 1985. Prior to that, our state was ruled by various fractions of INC for 36 years and Janata Party for 2 years. During that period, central allocation received by the state was 30% as grant and 70% as loan. We changed it to 90% as grant and only 10% as loan."
It adds, "The population of the northeast is only 3.8% of the total country. Despite this, AGP made the provision to reserve 10 per cent of funds of all development schemes of the central government. The state was receiving a mere Rs 61 for per MT of crude oil. We increased it to Rs 314."
Saying that regionalism was the only solution, the party in its website has given a clarion call for strengthening regional forces like AGP in the greater interest of people of Assam. "After all whatever development that has come about in Assam in the past two decades is only because of the relentless efforts of AGP," says the site.
