Cong goes edgy in lower Asom

Barpeta, Apr 07 (UNI) As the campaign comes to end for the second phase poll in Asom, the new equation in Muslim politics has turned the politico of the Congress on its head brining back both AGP and AUDF into the reckoning.

The advent of Asom United Democratic Front (AUDF), anti-incumbency factor and reemergence of the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) have made things tough for the Congress, which romped home last time with unprecedented sweep.

Of the total 31 seats, they bagged 24 of them leaving only 5 to the AGP and one to the BJP. But this time things are different now.

" Except Dharmapur, the Congress is not winning in any seats of lower Asom, " said party MP Golam Osmani, who has not only been campaigning against Congress but have put up a block of 21 Independent candidates.

His claim might be exaggerated, but the fact remains that there is a wave of change in the Muslim politics which as in almost all the constituencies there are sizeable number of Bangladeshi settlers, who are over the years have become Indian citizens.

" Things are improving for us rapidly and by the polling day it will improve further, " said AGP General Secretary Sarbananda Sonowal while returning from Barama. The AGP is also beleaguered by the presence of rebel candidates, a problem Congress is also facing in more than a dozen constituencies.

The Congress is now a worried lot as more than half of the constituencies that will go to poll in the final phase of poll are controlled by the Bangladeshi settlers. Amongst these 35 constituencies, in 14 constituencies, 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 the Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi. He has been criss crossing the Muslim-dominated constituencies in the past three days.

In fact, the Congress has always been accused of using the minorities as vote bank and not doing enough for them.

" For close to six decades they have been used. On the one hand they are under constant fear that they would be harassed on the pretext of being Bangladeshis. The Congress has just used them as vote bank, " said Mr Badaruddin Ajmal.

" The Muslims have never had a leader who is acceptable across the constituencies. All the other Muslims leader of the state are constituency-centric. Mr Ajmal has come with glamour. He is a millionaire and has an empire of perfume business in the Middle East. This glamour has propped him up and given some credibility also amongst the minorities, " said Asomiya Pratidin Editor Haidar Hussain.

In simple, no party is going to sweep the lower Asom as Congress, AGP and AUDF along with the Bodos will divide the lower Asom with BJP springing surprise in isolated places.

" Unlike upper Asom, the issues are diverse and society is not homogenous, " admitted AGP president Brindabon Goswami. But on the other hand the Mr Gogoi maintaining his usual gusto said, " Wait for the result. You all are wrong. You all are predicting wrong things.

The Muslims will vote only us and not anywhere. " " I am not bothered about the Chief Ministership. I was not interested in the past also. Our party will decide but the fact remains that we will win, " he said.

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