Ruling Congress opened its poll campaign in Assam with a massive rally in Guwahati. The rally saw an all out effort to retain the party’s traditional vote bank that has come under threat.

Special sops for the tea industry and its workers and security to the minorities in post-IMDT Assam dominated the proceedings. Preventing erosion in these two major vote bases has emerged as the primary concern for the ruling Congress in the run up to the Assembly elections. A confidential survey by the party in the tea belt had detected an anti-incumbency wave among the garden workers. The party is also wary of the alienation of the Muslim votes following the quashing of IMDT and the formation of UDF.

Defence Minister and senior Congress leader Pranab Mukherjee, who was also present in the rally, revealed that the UPA Government would soon unveil a special package to revive ailing tea industry. The same was reiterated by Santosh Mohan Dev. All the Congress leaders expressed full faith in the leadership of Tarun Gogoi and cleared any doubt whether he will be the chief ministerial candidate for the forthcoming Assembly elections or not.

The minority community was strongly assured that there is no cause for apprehensions about their security in post-IMDT period. Another heavyweight from Delhi Digvijay Singh lashed out at the UDF saying that the new party was bereft of any policy and principle. “UDF has not been formed for welfare of minority community. Its sole objective is to harm the Congress,” said Mr. Singh, who is the AICC in-charge of Assam.

Apart from Tarun Gogoi himself, Assam PCC president Bhubaneshwar Kalita was also present. He too lauded the effort of the State Government for creating a special department for the welfare of the tea community as also for the steps taken for the welfare of the minority community such as creation of the Madarsa Board and development of char areas. The rally saw a huge gathering – a magnitude which has seldom been witnessed in any rally in the recent past. It has  definitely put a smile on Gogoi’s face.

Assam | North East Enquirer (Headlines) | Nena Home Page |