Muslim politics returns to dominate Asom poll

Guwahati, Mar 15 (UNI) As the Assam assembly election draws near, most of the political parties are either busy wooing the minorities or trying to get mileage by playing upon majority communities apprehensions on this score.

At least 36 of the total 126 constituencies are Muslim majority areas and could influence the results in another 16, which would come close to the half way mark in the Assembly.

Asom Satra Maha Sabha President Bhadra Krishna Goswami said the Hindus should unite to form a vote bank.

Former Union Minister Arun Shourie, who was here recently to release the BJP's Vision 2020 for Asom, had appealed to the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) to ally with the BJP as according to him, it would be last chance to install a genuine indigenous Indian in the Chief Minister's chair.

"The way the infiltration is going on and minority politics is being moved up, there is no chance for any indigenous candidate to be the next Chief Minister of Asom after the 2006 poll," he claimed.

Meanwhile, a group of Muslim political leaders who felt that the ruling Congress had not done enough for the community has formed the United Democratic Front. "We are contesting in nearly 40 constituencies," said Mr Badaruddin Ajmal, a bearded clergyman, who is leading the group.

The Congress too is worried as in the past, the division of Muslim ranks had cost it two previous governments. "But this time they cannot do anything. We have done enough things for Muslims and we will continue to do so," Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said. The scraping of the IMDT Act by the Supreme Court ignited the rebel Muslims to break rank and turn the heat on the Congress.

The party has attempted some damage control through the Foreigner's Act amendment. However, the opposition parties are secretly closing ranks to put the Congress in a spot on this issue, political observers said.

The AGP, the largest opposition force, has so far banked on the Left for a secular image. But that had not stopped Congress from accusing the AGP and BJP of having reached a secret understanding.

"It is now abundantly clear from their list of candidates that they are having a seat sharing arrangement. We will further expose them," Mr Gogoi said.

Most of the BJP state level workers also think so as the announced candidates list has ignored many important leaders in favour of weak candidates.

"This is rubbish. How can we have a secret understanding when they have the Left with their side? We would not have minded that but they must desert them first and come to us openly," BJP state president Indromoni Bora said.

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