Guwahati: As the poll dates for Assam legislative assembly elections are approaching, various political parties have stepped up poll campaign activities in supports of their candidates, Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Chabua on Saturday to slam the opposition Congress party for their negative politics.
Addressing a massive poll rally in the eastern Assam town, PM Modi termed the Congress party as a power-hungry party. He claimed that the grand old party is only worried about the Kursi (power), not the people and hence its leaders never worked towards providing land papers to the indigenous people of Assam.
Greeting the people on account of forthcoming Fakua (Holi, the festival of colours), Modi sought votes for candidates belonging to Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) and its political allies. He also cautioned the electorates that Congress has joined hands with parties with divisive intentions towards the State’s culture and heritage.
Asserting that the Congress party has gone very far from the people of Assam, Modi said, “India’s oldest party, which ruled over India for 50-55 years, is supporting people who’re trying to remove India’s image associated with tea. Can we forgive Congress for this? Don’t they deserve to get punished?”
“A few days ago, the party leaders shared a photo from Sri Lanka and said it was Assam. On another occasion, they shared a photo from Taiwan and said it was this sacred land. It is injustice and insult to our beautiful Assam,” asserted Modi.
He also raised a question, if a Chaiwallah (tea seller) won’t understand the pain of tea plantation workers, who else would do. Modi assured that the government has initiated to increase in the wages of tea plantation workers. He also assured that the government campaign would be intensified to improve the standard of living of tea families.
In presence of State chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Union minister Rameswar Teli with a number of party nominees, Modi committed that the saffron party would always work for developments of every locality of Assam. He also added that the government has been working to give new opportunities to local youths and to create a better environment for industrial growth.
Meanwhile, the scrutiny of nomination papers for the third phase of polling for State legislative assembly elections scheduled for 6 April has begun, where 309 candidates (in 40 assembly constituencies) filed their nomination papers.
The first phase polling on 27 March will cover 47 seats and the second phase on 1 April is arranged to cover 39 seats. The counting of votes is scheduled for 2 May.
Prominent candidates in the third phase include Assam BJP president Ranjeet Kr Dass, State ministers Himanta Biswa Sarma, Siddhartha Bhattacharya, saffron legislators Angoorlata Deka, Atul Bora, Asom Gana Parishad nominees Phanibhusan Choudhury, RN Kalita, Kalpana Patowary, Raijor Dal nominee Diwas Phukan, Asom Jatiya Parishad nominees Dulu Ahmed, Adip Phukan, Jerifa Wahid, Congress supported Nandita Das, Ashima Bordoloi, Manjit Mahanta, etc.
