Bangladeshi settlers keep Congress on the edge

Dalgaon, Apr 7 (UNI) 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 so far 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 rebel Congress MP Golam Osmani, who is now campaigning against his own party. He was 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 had '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.

More than half of the constituencies that go to poll in the final phase are controlled by the Bangladeshi settlers of these in 14 constituencies, the Muslims are in clear majority.

However Chief Minister tarun Gogoi dissmisses the claim that congress is losing favour with the Muslims.

''It is a misconception that Muslims are deserting us. Wait for the result. The Muslims will vote for those who can give them stability,'' assests Mr Gogoi. He has been heauily campaigning in the Muslim dominated constituencies in for the past three days.

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