PTI
NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 29
Congress does not favour a Bihar-type grand alliance in Assam but is keen on some “understanding” with friendly parties to defeat BJP.
Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi says Congress is in talks with Badaruddin Ajmal-led AIUDF, which has significant base among state’s over 34 per cent Muslim population, but feels the party is “soft” towards BJP.
“I am not talking about political alliance. I am talking about some kind of understanding. Not a grand alliance like Bihar. That is not possible in Assam. Because, if we go in for an alliance, we will have to forgo many seats in many areas where we are strong,” he told PTI in an interview.
The 79-year-old Congress veteran said even though AIUDF was in discussions with the Congress, that party was also in talks with BJP for a secret understanding in the polls likely to be held in April-May 2016.
“I don’t think there will be any kind of alliance in Assam. BJP is trying. They are talking to even AIUDF. There is no doubt. Not open alliance. Secret understanding. AIUDF is talking to us also. If anyone wants to talk, we can talk. If you want to talk, we will talk,” he said.
Gogoi, who won a third straight term as Chief Minister in the last elections in 2011, said his idea of political understanding means, if someone does not want to vote for Congress, he or she should vote for any party but not the BJP.
“I will not say vote for AIUDF or AIUDF will not say vote for Congress. But it is up to them (AIUDF) whether they are interested in us or not. My motto is clear. We will fight BJP tooth and nail,” he said.
Gogoi claimed that BJP and AIUDF are soft towards each other even though both the parties are ideologically far apart.
Asked whether Congress will join hands with once bitter rival AGP for the said political understanding, the Chief Minister remained non-committal but said the regional party has been very critical towards BJP.
“I don’t know whether we will have any understanding with AGP. AGP talks strong language against BJP. In many cases more than the AIUDF. But AIUDF is silent on BJP. That’s why there is suspicion. It is a fact also,” he said.
Asked about the prospects of BJP after Union Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal’s appointment as state unit chief and head of the campaign committee, Gogoi said BJP has no future in Assam and the party is now full of “deserters” and “betrayers” from other parties.
“What prospects? No prospects. They are recruiting one after another deserters and betrayers. Some are from Congress, some from AGP. From Congress, some discredited fellows joined them. Some former leaders of AASU and even some former militants,” he said.
Gogoi said by changing the state unit chief “at the eleventh hour” BJP showed that there is a “crisis” in the party as a captain is not changed at the last moment or a general is changed in the midst of a war.
Asked whether the joining of several Congress leaders, including once his most trusted Himanta Biswa Sarma in BJP will affect Congress, he said their switching over to BJP was a “good riddance” for Congress.
“No, no. No impact. It was a good riddance. He (Sarma) was a fake Congressman. He is fake BJP now. Till the other day, he spoke many things against BJP. Till the other day he attacked Narendra Modi that in the pipes of Gujarat blood of Muslims flow. But now Modi has become his demi-god. The same man had criticised Sarbananda Sonowal like anything. So, these types of people are joining together,” he said.
Asked about his retirement plans, Gogoi, who will turn 80 in April next year, said he will continue as long as his health permits.
“I don’t have any retirement plan. As long I am healthy, so long god gives me healthy life, I will continue,” he said.
Asked if Congress is facing anti-incumbency after nearly 15 years of rule, Gogoi said some anti-incumbency is there but that will be overcome by the development work his government has done so far.
“Some anti-incumbency, yes. But people have seen that Congress has done development. Not like BJP. They promise and backtrack. We might not get 100 per cent success but 70 per cent, 80 per cent at least,” he said.
