Tough going for Congress in Assembly polls

New Delhi, Apr 2 (UNI) The stakes are high for the Congress striving to retain power in Kerala, Asom and the Union Territory of Pondicherry, and consolidate its position in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu in the Assembly elections to be held in April and May.

The results of the Assembly elections will be an indicator of the impact the policies and programmes of the Congress-led UPA coalition government, as also its two year rule at the Centre, have had on the people.

The outcome of the Assembly elections will also be a pointer to the future equations among the parties and the possibilities or otherwise of the emergence of a third force in politics.

Also on test will be the claim of the Congress leaders that party president Sonia Gandhi's "renunciation" and "sacrifice" in resigning from the Lok Sabha and as chairperson of the National Advisory Council has galvanised the party workers across the country, having a salutary effect on them.

The Congress is seeking to return to power in Asom, Kerala and Pondicherry and to retain its strength in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, the two states where it is a minor player.

Significantly, in two of the four states going to Assembly polls-- West Bengal and Kerala-- the Congress is pitted against the CPI(M), which is supporting the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre from outside.

Buoyed by the overwhelming response of the people to her resignation, Ms Gandhi has embarked upon her election camapign in five states. As the star campaigner of the Congress, Ms Gandhi has kicked off the party's election camapaign in Asom, addressing large rallies there. Programmes for her election tour of Kerala, West Bengal, Pondicherry and Tamil Nadu are being chalked out.

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