Lack of tie-up with Left may split secular votes: Tarun Gogoi
PTI
GUWAHATI, APRIL 7
Fighting perhaps the toughest electoral battle in his life, Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi apprehends division of “secular” votes in the absence of an understanding with parties like the Left with whom he is not averse to having a post-poll alliance.
However, he ruled out any post-poll tie up with AIUDF led by Badruddin Ajmal, the face of Bengali Muslims, who has been gaining in strength after every election.
The 81-year-old Congress veteran feels his party and Left parties should have formed an alliance before the polls to defeat the BJP.
“Yes, some secular votes will be divided because of absence of any understanding between us (Congress and Left). We have the understanding now that we must defeat communal forces,” Gogoi told PTI in an interview in the middle of his busy electioneering schedule.
He was responding to a query whether secular votes will get divided in the absence of a broad alliance between Congress, Left parties and some other like-minded parties.
“Their (Left) ideology and our ideology are identical. They did not come to us and we also did not go to them for a seat-sharing understanding. It (tie-up) was possible with Left parties, but somehow it did not happen,” said Gogoi fighting hard to get a fourth consecutive term in office.
The Congress has entered into a pre-poll alliance with United People’s Party (UPP) for four constituencies in Bodoland Territorial Area Districts, while six Left parties — CPM, CPI, CPI(ML)-Liberation, RSP, RCPI and Forward Block are fighting together in 59 seats across Assam. The first phase of polling for 65 constituencies of Assam assembly took place on April 4, while the second phase of voting for the remaining 61 seats will be held on April 11.
Asked about his options in case of a hung verdict, Gogoi said: “We will analyse the post-poll scenario after the results are out. If there is anything like that, then I will prefer the support of the independents.”
Asked specifically if he will be comfortable in taking support from the Left parties, Gogoi replied in the affirmative. “I will definitely be with the Left. I hope they will also support me if the need arises. They are also against the BJP,” he said.
The chief minister, however, regretted the Left is targeting both BJP and Congress in its appeal to voters. “Manik Sarkar came to Assam and said people should defeat both the BJP and Congress. Their other leaders are also saying the same. However, we are not asking people to defeat the Left,” he added.
Asked about chances of forming a post-poll alliance with Badruddin Ajmal-led All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), the Congress veteran said there is no possibility of having any tie-up with them. Gogoi said he will also turn down any offer of support from Hagrama Mohilary’s Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) after the results are out.
There is speculation that Mohilary may tie up with Congress post-poll in case of a hung verdict. The Congress fought the 2011 polls with BPF, which now has tied up with BJP due to lack of a formal undertaking by the UPA government on the Rs 1,000 crore aid to Bodoland Territorial Council.
The BJP has now formed a triangular alliance with Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and BPF.
The BJP is hoping to wrest the power for the first time in Assam and has been attacking Gogoi primarily over the infiltration issue, besides his alleged “misrule, corruption and lack of development”. On the other hand, the AIUDF has formed an alliance with JD(U) and RJD although these two parties do not have any significant presence in the state.
The AIUDF also invited the Congress and AGP into the alliance in its attempt to create a “mahagathbandhan” on the lines of Bihar assembly elections to defeat the BJP, but it did not succeed.
They may be facing a tough challenge from their BJP and AGP counterparts but ruling Congress’ two women candidates, both first-timers, are making all-out efforts to woo electorate with grit and determination in the prestigious Gauhati (East) and Gauhati (West) assembly seats.
Bobbeeta Sharma, a film and television personality from Gauhati (East), and business woman and social activist Jury Sharma Bordoloi from Gauhati (West), are facing stiff contest from BJP’s Siddhartha Bhattacharya and its alliance partner AGP’s Ramen Kalita in the two constituencies respectively.
Battling anti-incumbency, the ruling party replaced three time sitting MLA and former minister Capt Robin Bordoloi with 47-year-old Sharma in Gauhati (East) while 39-year-old Bordoloi was given ticket from Gauhati (West), replacing sitting party MLA Hemanta Talukdar who is now contesting as an independent.
Talukdar had last year sided with the dissidents in the party led by former minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who has since joined the BJP. Talukdar however, has not joined the saffron party.
Capt Robin Bordoloi though initially miffed at being denied the party ticket later extended his support to Bobbeeta Sharma and campaigned in several areas with the new entrant.
Talukdar, however, despite several appeals by the Gauhati (West) candidate and party members did not withdraw his nomination, and was expected to queer the pitch for Bordoloi.
Gauhati (East) will witness a straight contest between the candidates of the two major parties - Congress and BJP though there are 12 candidates in the fray.
