Bangla settlers keep Cong on edge

Dalgaon, Apr 07: The term 'minority' has no meaning in Asom as in one fourth of the constituencies they are the majority, reason enough for everyone to woo Muslims.

The clergies, the Madanis, the Ajmals and innumerable small and medium level Muslim leaders are crowding lower Asom to ensure a slice of Muslim votes, which have generally been going to the Congress kitty.

''But not this time. Except Dharmapur, Congress is not going to win in any seat in lower Asom,'' said Congress MP Golam Osmani, who is now campaigning against his own party. He is the tallest leader of the minorities till the advent of Badaruddin Ajmal, president of the Asom United Democratic Front (AUDF).

Mr Osmani is angry that the Congress was 'not doing enough' for the minorities over the decades and 'always used' them.

In fact, he along with his old friend H.R.A.Choudhury propped up the AUDF and brought in millionaire Badaruddin Ajmal to lead the party to ensure a split in the Congress vote bank.

The Congress is now a worried lot as more than half of the constituencies that go to poll in the final phase of poll are controlled by the Bangladeshi settlers. Amongst these 35 constituencies, in 14 constituencies, the Muslims are clear majority.

It is the misconception that Muslims are deserting us. Wait for the result. The Muslims will vote for those who can give them stability,'' said Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi. He has been criss crossing the Muslim dominated constituencies in the past three days.

UNI