Encouraged by the predictions of a hung Assembly, political parties in the State are weighing every options to form the next government.Asom Gana Parishad has already decided to stake the claim with support from parties like CPI, CPI (M), ASDC, SP, TGP and BPPF.

North East News Agency

ONE will find no better optimists than politicians. And post-election Assam clearly establishes this fact.

As exit polls predicted a hung Assembly in the State, much before the counting begins, all the major political parties in the State are oozing with confidence about the formation of the next government and in the process providing much needed comic relief to the people of this trouble-torn State.

For example, going by the exit poll predictions Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi withdrew himself from the race saying that he would not like to form a coalition with those parties which fought against the Congress in the elections. As a seasoned politician, Mr. Gogoi was aware of the fact that how difficult it would be for the party to form the government once again if it fails to reach the magic number of 64. Besides, his statement was seen by many as an effort to put pressure on like-minded political parties to support the Congress in case of hung Assembly. No one knows it better than Mr. Gogoi himself that how much pressure the party will have to withstand from NCP, AUDF and Hagrama Mohilary led faction of BPPF, the most likely allies of the party. Support us or perish was the message that Gogoi wanted to deliver, according to many.

But clearly misreading the statement, Assam Pradesh Congress president Bhubaneswar Kalita flew to Delhi without wasting any time to tell the party high command that all minority groups will support his candidature and only he can provide a stable government.

The drama does not end there. Seeing Mr. Kalita actively propagating for himself, couple of other Congress leaders, who also nurse the dream of leading the State, joined the fray. Everyone is making tall claims and trying to scuttle the chances of others.

But while advocating their candidatures, these leaders are clearly ignoring the ground reality in Assam. First of all the chances of Congress forming the next government in the State will largely depend on number of seats the party can retain this time. If the party gets 45 or more seats, it will be in the race. But if it comes below 45, opposition parties will try to form an alliance to keep the Congress out of power. But it seems that the Congress leaders are in an unusual hurry as they began the race for the top slot much before May 11, the day of counting.

If Congress leaders have proved themselves power hungry, the opposition parties are no different. After failing to play the role of a constructive audience during the last five years which was marred by infighting and even after admitting that Congress will emerge as the single largest party, Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) led by Brindaban Goswami is now weighing every option to form the next government in the State. AGP has already decided to stake the claim with support from parties like CPI, CPI (M), ASDC, SP, Trinamool Gana Parishad and Bodoland People’s Progressive Front faction led by former student leader Rabiram Narzary, without being confident of how many seats they will eventually win.

Though his two terms at the Janata Bhavan in Dispur were full with controversies and presently expelled from AGP, former chief minister Prafulla Mahanta is also in the race encouraged by the exit poll results. Mr. Mahanta is trying to form the government with the help of Bodo people’s Progressive Forum (BPPF), Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), the Assam United Democratic Front (AUDF) and some independent candidates.

And those who are not in the race are not sitting idle too. Parties like BJP and AUDF are now dreaming to play the role king makers. Leaders of these two parties are confident that none will be able to come to power without their support.

It’s really free for all in Assam.

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