CPI leading Left fight back

Sivsagar, Mar 31 (UNI) The CPI will lead the Left Parties campaign in the assembly elections in Asom after being wiped out in the last Assembly polls for the first time since independence.

The CPI, a senior partner in the Left Front in the state compared to the CPI (M) is trying to win at least three seats while the latter is strong in two constituencies.

''For the Left Parties this election is very important. It is a question of survival of the Left ideology,'' said veteran CPI leader Pramode Gogoi, trying to win back the Sibsagar constituency from the Congress.

Even Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi admitted that it would be tough to stop the CPI this time in Sivsagar. ''The CPI has been winning the seat since 1962 and we were lucky to win it the last time,'' Mr Gogoi said.

But for the Left Parties winning the Sivsagar seat is not only important but the main issue is to expand their shrinking base in the state. Today the CPI is in a winning position in Sivsagar, Nazira and Morigaon while the CPI(M) is giving a tough fight at Sorbhog and Naharkatia.

The two Left partis are working tirelessly in their pockets to be in a strong position. In Nazira constituency, the regional headquarters of the Oil and Natural Gas Commission, former Rajya Sabha member Dhrupad Borgohain is giving a tough time to unseat Dr Hemopraba Saikia from the constituency, which the Saikia family has been holding since 1963.

''This time nobody can stop us,'' said Borgohain, buoyed by the AGP support he has been enjoying after a long gap.

Already the CPI(M) has been bringing in West Bengal leaders like Hannan Mollah for campaigning, but they are a little behind the CPI, which has better mass base.

The main opposition party, AGP, have thrown their weight behind the left parties to ensure that Congress candidates are kept at bay.

UNI