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Hectic pre-poll activities at Tezpur LAC
TEZPUR, April 1: The Congress party will fight against regionalism, communalism and terrorism till the end, said Meera
Begum, general secretary, Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (Mahila). Addressing the Mahila Congress workers at
a party meeting held at Hem Baruah hall on Saturday, Begum said that the Congress party always stood against exaggerated
nationalism and terrorism since Independence for which Mahatma Gandhi, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi sacrificed their
lives for the greater cause of the country. [AT]
State Samata Party keeps options open
GUWAHATI, April 1: The State unit of the Samata Party is keeping all its options open in the run-up to the Assembly
elections here scheduled for May 10. The party was prepared to go it alone while also keeping the alliance option open, State
president of the party Afzalur Rahman said here today. Rahman, who was addressing a news conference in the party office here,
said that if the party contested on its own, it would put up candidates in 45 electoral constituencies covering 12 districts of
the State. [AT]
Morigaon LAC
Cong, CPI begin wall writing campaign
MORIGAON, April 1: The Congress and the CPI have started vigorous wall-writing campaigns with the help of youths to draw
the attention of voters at 80 Morigaon LAC. Munin Mahanta, CPI sitting MLA, will be representing 80 Morigaon LAC seat. As the
party's alliance will continue with the AGP-led front hence no candidate from the AGP will be put up this time though the AGP
District Committee has sent the names of four probable candidates from Morigaon, namely ex-MLA and AGP general
secretary of Morigaon district unit Horen Bora, ex-president of Morigaon AGP unit Sashi Kanta Hazarika, vice-president Ashok
Deka and central committee member Birinchi Sarmah. Names of six Congress ticket seekers from Morigaon LAC have been sent
for consideration of the APCC(I). [AT]
Poll scenario in Silchar LAC still hazy
SILCHAR, April 1: The hazy poll scenario in the prestigious Silchar constituency has got another jolt as the only confirmed
candidate, sitting BJP MLA Bimalangshu Roy, has been flown to Delhi following a cardiac problem. Though the infighting-tormented Congress is yet to finalise its candidate, it
appears, Kamalendu Bhattacharjee, who had earlier been removed from APCC general secretary post for his alleged anti-party activities during '98 general election where SM Dev
was defeated, would get another chance to avenge his last term's narrow defeat. The ruling alliance, on the other hand, still appears to be undecided, though a reliable source indicated that
Rafiq Ahmed of CPI would be fielded with his dual advantage of being a Muslim as well as a Communist to lure the 35 per cent Muslim voters as well as leftist vote bank of 10 thousand plus.
However, the entire poll scenario is still unclear, mainly due to the sudden uncertainly over Roy's possibility of contesting. [AT]
Hectic parleys between AGP, BJP continue
From Kalyan Barooah
NEW DELHI, April 1: The BJP state unit's proposal to go for a seat understanding rather than a formal poll alliance with the ruling AGP has found few takers in the regional party, as hectic parleys
between the two continued here today for the third day. Even as AGP's executive body meeting at Guwahati debated the option of joining forces with the BJP, the representatives of the two parties here
were engaged in a series of discussions to clinch the seat-sharing arrangement. [AT]
Mahanta to initiate talk on poll alliance
GUWAHATI, April 1: Decks have been cleared for the possible electoral alliance between AGP and BJP as the Asam Gana Parishad executive committee this evening authorised the party
president to initiate discussions with like-minded parties. Biren Baishya, AGP spokesman, said that the party executive in a resolution adopted in the meet expressed confidence of facing
the ensuing Assembly elections on its own. However, in order to wipe the Congress out of the political arena of Assam, AGP president and Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta has been
authorised to initiate talks on the issue of poll alliance with like-minded parties and also to formulate poll strategy. The issue was discussed in detail in today's party executive and the
general body of the party will meet tomorrow morning at the Ambari party head office to further discuss the possible poll pact with BJP and other like-minded parties, Baishya informed.
Meanwhile, according to an informed source, the BJP in its move to make electoral alliance with the AGP, has proposed that both the parties should contest 55 seats each and the remaining
seats in the State Assembly should be distributed among the other alliance parties. Now, it will be interesting to see whether the AGP general body which is meeting tomorrow morning will
accept the proposal or not. [AT]
Political parties thrive on well-wishers' donations
By R Dutta Choudhury
GUWAHATI, April 1: Well-wishers, is the term commonly used by the political parties and non-political organisations of Assam to describe those who provide funds to them but most parties are
reluctant to specify the names of the persons who keep the parties running with their 'donations'. The issue of fund collection by the political parties has become a major issue after the former president of
the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Bangaru Laxman was caught on tape while accepting an amount of Rs one lakh 'as donation for the party' and eventually he had to resign from the post. [AT]
Candidates' selection deferred
Cong may ally with CPI for State polls
NEW DELHI, April 1: The Congress has decided to review its strategy of going alone in the Assembly polls in the State and is toying with a proposal to have poll pact with the CPI. The party's selection
process has been deferred and will now be held later this month, a top leader of the party told The Assam Tribune. It was a bewildered Assam Congress leadership that met here last evening for an
emergent meeting of the executive committee to discuss the developing situation in the wake of reports of the ruling AGP and the BJP planning to join hands. According to a senior party leader they are
immediately going to finalise the candidates for those constituencies, which the Congress plans to fight on its own, deferring the selection of candidates of the rest until seat-sharing arrangements are finalised.
The State Election Committee that met this afternoon continued its sittings till late in the evening and candidates for bulk of the seats mainly for those in Upper Assam, Barak Valley were short-listed,
sources said. [AT]
20 aspirants from BJP in Morigaon dist
MORIGAON, April 2: As the AGP-BJP poll alliance remains
inconclusive, BJP ticket seekers for three LACs, Jagiroad (SC),
80 Morigaon and 81 Lahorighat LAC in Morigaon district have
increased to 20. In the last Lok Sabha election, the BJP secured
37069 votes at 79 Jagiroad (SC) LAC at 81 Lahorighat LAC,
23,185 votes, totalling 1,10,77,61 votes in the district, while
Congress (I) secured 29668 votes in 79 Jagiroad (SC) 25,560
votes at 80 Morigaon, 42848 votes at 81 Lahorighat LAC totalling
98,076 votes, while AGP secured 33051 votes in three
constituencies. [AT]
Minority MLAs divided over AGP poll pact
GUWAHATI, April 2: It seems AGP legislators belonging to
religions minority community are divided on their view over the
on-going efforts for the party's electoral alliance with the BJP
although the party's general council today favoured it. While
taking part in a discussion of the general council today, AGP
Dalgaon LAC legislator Abdul Jabbar welcomed the move for an
alliance with the BJP and hoped that religious minority
community voters would continue to support the AGP even if it
struck an understanding with the BJP. [AT]
ABSU decision on alliance with AGP soon
By R Dutta Choudhury
GUWAHATI, April 2: The All Bodo Students' Union (ABSU) will take the final decision on extending
support to the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) in the ensuing polls within the next few days, said the
ABSU president, Sri Rabi Ram Narzary. Talking to The Assam Tribune, Sri Narzary said that both the
AGP and the BJP have sought the support of the ABSU for the ensuing polls. He revealed that the
ABSU and other Bodo organisations like the Bodo Peoples' Action Committee, All Bodo Employees
Federation and the Bodo Women's Welfare Federation would meet at Kajalgaon on April 4 to form a
central election committee and the decisions on the poll ties would be taken by the committee. The
ABSU president said that all the indigenous people of Assam must fight unitedly for their survival. He
also appealed to all groups of indigenous people to fight the polls unitedly. [AT]
AGP all set for tie-up with BJP
GUWAHATI, April 2: The general council of the ruling Asom Gana Pari-shad (AGP) today gave the
go-ahead for the party leadership to go for electoral alliance with 'like-minded' political parties including
the BJP and other constituents of National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Following a day-long sitting at
Rabindra Bhawan here, the General Council of the party in a resolution while approving the last night
resolution of the party's executive body, allowed the party to forge electoral alliance with the BJP and
other NDA constituents "in order to root out Congress" in the forthcoming electoral battle. [AT]
Electoral battle hots up
[Editorial, The Assam Tribune, April 4, 2001]
With the decks cleared for a BJP-AGP poll alliance in the State to face the May 10 poll hustings, the entire pre-poll scenario has overnight changed compelling the rival political parties to review and reassess their poll strategy in view of the new development. The last minute decision of the BJP and AGP leadership to go in for an alliance has naturally caught the Congress, a major contender on the wrong foot. [AT]
TGP for front sans AGP, BJP
GUWAHATI, April 3: The Trinamool Gana Parishad (TGP) has
decided to forge an electoral alliance with those parties having an
anti-AGP and anti-BJP stand. The decision came in the wake of
BJP's new poll pact with the AGP. Talking to The Assam
Tribune, TGP secretary Atul Bora said that the party had already
held parleys with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) for an
electoral alliance. In this context, Bora further said that apart
from NCP, the party will hold discussion with the like-minded
parties and a final picture would emerge soon. "People are
disappointed with the AGP for its family-oriented politics," he
said and appealed to the people to oust AGP from power. [AT]
Mahanta kicks off poll campaign in Goalpara
GOALPARA, April 3: "Violence and development cannot go
together. Asom Gana Parishad, which assured security of
people in its election manifesto, which had to work for the
integrity of India, did not compromise with insurgency even after
facing odds like killing of its general secretary, attempt on life of
several ministers and leaders and their relatives," said Chief
Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta while addressing a large
gathering at Iddgah field, Goalpara on March 31 to kick off his
party's formal election campaign in the Goalpara East
constituency. [AT]
Left parties snap ties with AGP
GUWAHATI, April 3: The Left parties' honeymoon with the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) is finally over
as the ruling four-party alliance has broken up following AGP's move to go for poll adjustments with the
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The ministers belonging to the CPI and the Samajwadi Party in the
AGP-led Ministry will formally tender their resignations within a day or two and efforts are on form a new
Left-Democratic alliance by the constituents of the Peoples' Front. [AT]
Gogoi lashes out at AGP-BJP alliance
NEW DELHI, April 3: Drawing the battle-lines for the State Assembly polls, the Congress party today
described the AGP and BJP as opportunist parties, even as it hinted at the possibility of opening a
dialogue with the CPI and other like-minded parties. Addressing a press conference here at the Press
Club of India, the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president, Sri Tarun Gogoi, today
blasted both the AGP and the BJP in equal measures describing their proposed alliance as an unholy
nexus. [AT]
AGP-BJP poll pact
Seat-sharing talks in Delhi today
NEW DELHI, April 3: The first round of formal talks on seat-sharing between the AGP and BJP
begins here tomorrow, even as the BJP has proposed to contest the forthcoming polls under its own
manifesto. "We want an honourable alliance," a comment by the former Minister of State, Kabindra
Purkayastha to this newspaper perfectly reflected the prevailing mood of the BJP State unit leadership. [AT]
Crucial AGP-BJP talks on seat-sharing today
NEW DELHI, April 4: The much-awaited negotiations between the BJP and the AGP has been
deferred till tomorrow as the national party is still in the process of finalising the modalities for talks.
Even as the BJP leadership were closeted in daylong confabulations, the eight-member strong AGP
delegation waited with bated breath until they were told in the evening that talks are likely to be held
tomorrow. Later in the evening the AGP leaders met in Assam House finalising their own strategy. The
BJP general secretary, Sunil Shastri told The Assam Tribune that they are in the process of working out
a clear consensus on the number of seats to be shared with the AGP and other modalities of the
alliance. "I believe the other side is also doing the same and we are meeting formally tomorrow", he
added. [AT]
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Atul Bora, leader of the Trinamul Gana Parisad, opening his party's election office at Sonapur.
Asomiya Pratidin photo. |
Promode Gogoi resigns from State Cabinet
GUWAHATI, April 4: The CPI National Executive member and State Flood Control Minister, Sri
Promode Gogoi, today resigned from the State Cabinet following the party's decision to come out of the
four-party ruling combination protesting AGP's overtures to have poll pact with "communal" BJP.
Addressing a press conference, Sri Gogoi informed that he had tendered his resignation to the Chief
Minister this morning as per the directive of the Secretariate of Assam State Council of the CPI which
took the decision to snap AGP link after reviewing the fast developing election scenario in the State. [AT]
State Cong list on April 14
NEW DELHI, April 4: The Assam Congress Party has
decided to release its list of candidates on April 14 following a
direction from the party High Command to expedite the process
of selection of candidates. A senior leader of the Congress and
member of the State Election Committee, Paban Singh
Ghatowar told this newspaper they are meeting in Assam on
April 8 and 9 to finalise the list of candidates following which it
would be placed before the Central Screening Committee, which
is meeting for two days on April 10 and April 11. Thereafter, it
would be sent to the Central Election Committee for clearance
and would be released by April 13 or April 14, Sri Ghatowar said. [AT]
Congress ahead in election campaign in Hojai
HOJAI, April 4: In a bid to retain the prestigious Hojai seat for
the third consecutive term. Dr Ardhendu Kumar Dey, the former
Supply Minister of Assam who is almost certain to get the
Congress ticket, has almost completed his first phase of
unofficial campaign of wall writings in and around Hojai town. The
decorative attractive colour matching writings by an artist from
Lumding have caught the eyes of the people. On the contrary,
the BJP and the AGP campaigns are yet to begin mainly
because of non-finalisation of probable candidates. It is learnt
that the BJP here is divided over the selection of a candidate
while the AGP has yet to find out a suitable candidate. [AT]
Election wave still absent in Barpeta
BARPETA, April 4: While the Assembly elections in Assam
are only one month ahead, the people of Barpeta are yet to be
drifted by what is popularly called "election wave". The age-long
negligence they have received from the political parties and
leaders who have been the members of Legislative Assembly
from this constituency has stripped the people of Barpeta of all
kinds of enthusiasm as regards Assembly elections. [AT]
EC turns down State govt's plea
NEW DELHI, April 4: The Election Commission of India has
turned down the Assam government's plea, directing it to
immediately transfer the deputy commissioners of Nagaon and
Sonitpur districts. The State government at the direction of the
EC last week had to shift 49 officials following an order that all
officials in the districts up to the rank of deputy commissioners
including additional DCs, SDOs and SDPOs who have put in over
four years of service in a district and including home districts be
transferred. Sources said the State government complied with
the order that though it kept back deputy commissioners in the
two districts on the ground that they were experienced and their
expertise were needed to handle the situation in the two
districts. The plea was however turned down by the EC and an
order was issued to send them packing. Significantly, the
Nagaon district also happens to be the Chief Minister Prafulla
Kumar Mahanta's home district and that may not have been lost
on the EC officials. [AT]
AGP launches election drive in Sipajhar LAC
SIPAJHAR, April 4: The political scene is hooting up in 66
Sipajhar LAC area in Darrang district with the announcement of
the date of Assembly elections. The constituency is represented
by Dr Zoii Nath Sarma, Revenue Minister who has won the seat
three times consecutively by defeating his nearest Congress
rival. The constituency has 1,21,288 voters out of which 63,117
are male and 58,171 females according to latest voters list. The
three major political parties -- Asom Gana Parishad (AGP),
Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have geared up
their activities. Among those the Asom Gana Parishad is making
a serious bid to woo the voters. The party has already launched
a wall writing drive in every nook and corner of the constituency. [AT]
500 AGP workers join Congress in Tezpur
TEZPUR, April 4: The AGP-BJP alliance has taken a heavy toll
on the ruling party in Tezpur sub-division when at least 500 AGP
workers resigned from the primary membership of the party and
joined the Congress at a function held under the presidentship of
Dr Rabindra Goswami, former MLA, according to a note issued
by Sonitpur District Congress Committee. The note signed by Sri
Akul Nath, publicity secretary stated that both the AGP and BJP
have lost their ideology. "The ruling AGP which has been
criticising the BJP for communalism has joined the BJP in order
to regain its power as the people have lost complete faith in the
AGP-led government", the note added. The release further held
the AGP government responsible for the recent mass killings in
the State. [AT]
Voters' charter and poll campaign
[Letters to the Editor, The Assam Tribune]
Sir,
The majority of the voters of our country are not politically
conscious. Because they are illiterate and semi-literate. They
need education to enlighten them politically. In so far as the
Assamese voters are concerned, their level of political
consciousness is pitiable. More ...
Yours etc., SIBA NATH SARMA, Narikalbari, Guwahati. [AT]
Voters' charter and poll campaign (ii)
[Letters to the Editor, The Assam Tribune]
Sir,
The time is ripe for us to ponder over and decide which
political party we should cast our vote for, as the election is
drawing near. The main national parties to contest the election
are Congress, BJP, Trinamool Congress, Janata Party,
Samajwadi Party and Nationalist Congress Party. The regional
parties are mainly AGP and Trinamool Gana Parishad. More ...
Yours etc., BALIN PHOOKAN, Hatigaon, Guwahati. [AT]
Voting machines for four Guwahati constituencies
GUWAHATI, April 4: Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) will
be used in four Assembly constituencies -- all in the Guwahati
sub-division -- for the forthcoming elections in Assam, an official
release here said today, reports PTI. The constituencies are
Jalukbari, Dispur, Guwahati East and Guwahati West. The total
polling stations in the four constituencies are 731 and the district
administration has made elaborate arrangements to educate
officials to be engaged on poll duty as well as voters on the use
of the machine. [AT]
13 seats for Bodos, 5 for ASDC (Holiram)
AGP, BJP to bargain for 108 seats
NEW DELHI, April 5: The first day of negotiations between the AGP and the BJP took off on a
promising note, with the two sides exploring the possibility of working out a compromise formula to
resolve the vexed seat sharing problem. Emerging from the talks that got underway in the morning, the
BJP general secretary in-charge for North-east, Sunil Shastri, said the contentious issue of seat
arrangement was expected to be clinched shortly. [AT]
CPM to fight Cong, BJP allies in State
GUWAHATI, April 5: The Communist Party of India (Marxist) CPI(M) polit bureau members, Sri
Prakash Karat today called upon all Left and secular parties to come together to fight Congress and
BJP allies in the forthcoming Assembly polls. Addressing a press conference here this morning, the
CPM leader while branding AGP-BJP tie-up a "desperately opportunistic" one said for his party, the
four-party alliance in the State cease to exist the day AGP went the BJP way. Stating that the CPM will
stick to its national agenda of fighting both the Congress and the BJP in all the five States going to polls
on May 10 next, Sri Karat ruled out possibility of having understanding with any party which has any
relation with the Congress. AT]
If Farooq can join NDA, why not AGP : CM
GUWAHATI, April 5: The process of seat sharing between the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and the
National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is progressing well and it will be finalised within the next two to
three days, said the AGP president, Sri Prafulla Kumar Mahanta. Addressing a press conference here
today, Sri Mahanta however, refused to divulge the details of the process of seat sharing. He justified
the AGP's decision to go for seat sharing with the BJP and said, "a friendly Government at the Centre is
always beneficial for the State and we see nothing wrong in going for an alliance with the NDA." He
pointed out that in the present political situation, the regional parties were playing a crucial role in the
formation of governments at the Centre and "if Farooq Abdullah can join the NDA, why not the AGP." [AT]
SULFA not to take sides in polls
GUWAHATI, April 5: The Asom Jatiya Mahasabha -- an
organisation of surrendered ULFA (SULFA) militants, today
clarified that the association was not in league with any political
party and said that the organisation is concerned only about
boosting the 'economic development' of the State. Speaking to
media persons here this afternoon, Sunil Nath, member of the
steering committee of the association, said that the Mahasabha
was a purely "non-political" organisation, and if any member of it
was an active member of the any political party he would have to
resign from any post in the district as well as central level of the
organisation. Terming the poll boycott call from ULFA as a
"foolish stand", Nath said that the Mahasabha would not
officially favour any political party or candidate. [AT]
Trinamool Cong to tie-up with APCC
GUWAHATI, April 5: The Assam Pradesh Trinamool
Congress (APTC) has decided to form an alliance with the
Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) in view of the
coming Assembly polls on the directive of the party high
command. Speaking to media persons here this morning at the
party office, Chittaranjan Patowary, president of the State unit,
said that the party has staked claim for at least 50 per cent of
the seats and added that it would be not be content unless the
APCC allots it at least 30 seats. Patowary informed that if the
APCC did not concede to its demand for at least 30 seats, it
would reconsider its alliance and renew its talks with the other
smaller, like-minded and secular parties of the State. [AT]
PDF to contest 16 seats
GUWAHATI, April 5: The Peoples' Democratic Front (PDF),
the only Bodo political party, will contest in 16 Assembly
constituencies in the forthcoming elections in Assam, the party
general secretary, Gangadhar Ramchiary, said today, reports
PTI. The PDF formed a nine-member central election committee
at a meeting held here today and its president, Dhajen Brahma,
was appointed the chief election agent for the party. The
committee has eight other members, including three party
MLAs, and it will hold its next meeting on April 14 when the final
list of candidates will be selected, Ramchiary said. [AT]
RSP to contest 10 seats
GUWAHATI, April 5: The Revolutionary Socialist party will
contest 10 Assembly seats in Assam in the forthcoming election
and has appealed to the Left parties not to align with the
Congress, BJP or AGP in the State. [AT]
Tough task ahead of AGP in Kamalpur
GORESWAR, April 5: With only a month left for the
Assembly elections, no sign of poll campaigning has been
witnessed in the 56 Kamalpur LAC in Kamrup district. This is so
as most of the political parties have not yet selected their
candidates except for the AGP whose candidate, Sri Moidul
Islam Bora, the Sports and Youth Welfare Minister is seeking
re-election. The alliance between the AGP and the BJP has its
repercussions in Kamalpur LAC. The vice-president of Sri
Rangiya District AGP Samiti, Sri Birendra Nath Deka, an
energetic social worker is going to contest in the ensuing
Assembly elections as an Independent candidate in Kamalpur
under Patidarrang mouza and he is backed by the voters of the
entire mouza. He will face competition from his AGP and BJP
rivals particularly. He has brought about a split among the
electorates and supporters of the AGP resulting in the existing
AGP contender, Sri Moidul Islam Bora facing a tough fight to
retain his seat. [AT]
Mahmora LAC
Tough fight ahead for Hiryana Konwar
SONARI, April 5: It may not be a cakewalk for Sri Hiranya
Kumar Konwar, the Minister of State Veterinary and Animal
Husbandry, and MLA from 105 Mahmora Legislative Assembly
Constituency (LAC), in the Assembly poll this time round.
Mahmora LAC has shown a peculiarity since the first Assembly
election. No MLA of this constituency has been able to win for a
second term, irrespective of his party affiliation. [AT]
Strong anti-incumbency wave in Gauripur constituency
GAURIPUR, April 5: 24 Gauripur Legislative Assembly
constituency is a prestigious seat. Earlier, several ministers
namely Azad Ali, Aniruddha Singha Choudhury, Mahibul Hoque
and noted elephant expert Prakitish Chandra Barua represented
this seat in the State Assembly. Political activities for the
forthcoming Assembly elections are hotting up gradually in this
constituency. It will likely to get momentum after the declaration
of the names of the candidates by the political parties. Tough
times lie ahead for the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP)-led ruling,
alliance for its 'complete failure on all fronts' which in turn has
created strong anti-incumbency wave throughout the Gauripur
constituency. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is lagging far
behind due to the lack of a quality leader and the latest exposure
on corruption by tehelka.com. Moreover, the major drawback for
the BJP is dearth of organisation. [AT]
BJP to contest 7 seats in Cachar
SILCHAR, April 5: The Cachar BJP will contest in all the
seven Assembly constituencies in the district. Informing this Sri
Ajit Bhattacharjee, district president, said at best they would
compromise to the level of friendly contest with the new-found
ally AGP in the Udharbond and Sonai seats as the "prospect in
the former one is not satisfactory," he admitted. Pooh-poohing
the general concept on that the alliance with the AGP would
affect the BJP's vote-bank in this Bengali-dominated valley, Sri
Bhattacharjee said that their main rival was the Congress. [AT]
No water, no vote
[Letters to the Editor, The Assam Tribune]
Sir,
I fully support the views expressed by Sri Sibanath
Sarma (AT, March 27) that the inhabitants of Beltola area of the
city should raise the slogan "No water, no vote" on the eve of the
ensuing election. Really, it is a matter of regret that due to the
Government's utter negligence, the inhabitants of Beltola area
have been suffering from acute scarcity of water since long.
Beltola is a typical area, where well and tube-well do not become
successful. Tube-well can not be bored too deep for sufficient
water due to layer of rock underneath in some parts of the area.
On the otherhand, sinking of well can not be done too deep due
to the peculiar character of soil and water layers, not to speak of
getting iron-free water. Wells, tube-wells have gone dry. For want
of water, office-goers have to go to office without bath,
house-wives have to go to distant Basistha river for washing
clothes. Water has to be bought in buckets. Will the Government
take urgent steps to implement a water supply scheme in the
area?
Yours etc., JADAB DAS, Beltola Tiniali, Guwahati. [AT]
Seat sharing talks on
AGP, BJP narrow down differences
NEW DELHI, April 6: The dialogue between the AGP and the BJP continued for the second day
today, with both sides claiming to have narrowed down their differences over the seat sharing
arrangements. Amidst a feeling of bonhomie, the two sides here this evening, got down to the fourth
round of negotiation to hammer out the crucial seat adjustment agreement. [AT]
Minority groups to chalk poll strategy
GUWAHATI, April 6: The minority organisations of the State will meet in a crucial meeting at the
National Education Foundation, Bora Service here tomorrow to chalk out their action plan in relation to
the coming Assembly election in the State. According to Sri H R A Choudhury, chief convenor of the
Co-ordination Committee of Minority' Organisations, Assam, the meeting will discuss three options of
either going alone in the coming election by the minority' organisations, or entering into an
understanding with either of the Congress or any other like-minded secular democratic parties. But, in
case of an understanding with the Congress, the proposal for that should come from the Congress, Sri
Choudhury said, referring to the parties he is having with the minority organisations nowadays. Sri
Choudhury is also the president of the UMF. [AT]
EVMs to be a new experience for city voters
GUWAHATI, April 6: Voters in Guwahati sub-division will have a new experience on May 10 when,
during the State Assembly elections, they will cast their votes not on paper ballots but on electronic
voting machines (EVMs). The machines are being used in the State for the very first time. All the 731
polling stations in Dispur, Jalukbari, Guwahati East and Guwahati West constituencies will have EVMs
instead of the old fashioned sheets of ballot papers and the steel ballot boxes. No more smudges or
invalid votes. A voter has to merely press a button to register his vote. It is virtually a fool-proof system. [AT]
EC allots symbols to ASDC factions
GUWAHATI, April 6: The Election Commission of India has
given ad hoc recognition and allotted symbols to the two factions
of the erstwhile Autonomous State Demand Committee (ASDC)
in order to enable the groups to participate in the forthcoming
Assembly polls. Sources informed that the faction led by Sri
Holiram Terang as the president, has been given interim
recognition as ASDC (United) and allotted the symbol of 'baby
doll'. The other faction led by Sri Chandra Kanta Terang as the
president has been given interim recognition as ASDC
(Progressive) and allotted the symbol of 'bucket'. [AT]
Bhadreswar Tanti quits BJP
GUWAHATI, April 6: Former Lok Sabha member and tea
tribes leader, Sri Bhadreswar Tanti has resigned from the
preliminary membership of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
protesting the party's decision to have poll-pact with the 'corrupt'
AGP. In his resignation letter sent to the BJP president, Jana
Krishnamurty, Sri Tanti who fought 1999 Lok Sabha polls from
Kaliabor constituency, expressed his dismay over the action of
former BJP president Bangaru Laxman as exposed in Tehelka
tape. He criticised the BJP for indulging in high caste communal
politics which in contrary to secular principles. One of the
reasons which compelled him to leave the BJP, was that the
party is not bothered to work for the interest of tea garden
labourers, minorities, tribals and other downtrodden communities
in the State. [AT]
RJD decision
GUWAHATI, April 6: The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has decided to
field candidates in the ensuing Assembly election. In a RJD
statement claimed that the party would announce the list of on
April 15. [AT]
4,000 very sensitive booths in State : DGP
SILCHAR, April 6: Assam Police had sought deployment of
additional security forces during the Assembly poll as Election
Commission had decided to hold the election on a single day.
Informing this, Sri Hare Krishna Deka, State DGP, however,
maintained that the overall law-and-order situation in the State
was conducive for free and fair election. Addressing a press
conference, after a meeting with the police officials of southern
Assam, Sri Deka indicated that a group of Muslim
fundamentalist terrorists was still active in the State. Security
forces, however, were fully equipped to thwart the terrorist
activities, he asserted. Assam Police also has a plan to
modernise its communication system, he informed. Maintaining
that the police department had been keeping a close vigil on the
cross-border movement of various militant groups, Sri Deka
informed that altogether 6,000 booths had been identified as
sensitive and 4,000 as very sensitive throughout the State. [AT]
BJP office ransacked
GUWAHATI, April 7 The State committee office of the
Bharatiya Janata Party was ransacked by irate members of the
Lakhimpur unit of the Bharatiya Janata Yuba Morcha today in
protest against the process of seat sharing with the AGP. A
delegation of the BJYM today also staged a demonstration in
front of the State BJP office. [AT]
Uncertainty over AGP-BJP pact on
NEW DELHI, April 7: A cloud of uncertainty hung over the AGP-BJP alliance with the two parties
locked in a standoff over the seat-sharing arrangement. the two sides were again expected to meet late
in the night to break the impasse. The breakdown in the seat-sharing negotiations between the BJP and
the AGP this afternoon posed a threat to the alliance, forcing the leadership of both the parties to
intervene to save the situation. An uneasy calm prevailed in the BJP camp ever since it became clear
that the AGP was willing to concede only 29 seats to the BJP way below their demand of 55 seats. [AT]
Poll pact with CPI, UMF unlikely : APCC
GUWAHATI, April 7: The president of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC), Tarun Gogoi
today said that chances of poll alliance with the CPI or the United Minority Front were very dim. He
informed that although the CPI after snapping its ties with the AGP, had approached the Congress with
a proposal for poll-pact, there was reservation among a larger section of Congressmen who were of the
opinion that electoral understanding with the Left party at this moment would not be of much help for the
Congress. [AT]
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Public meeting in Guwahati organised by Asom Jatiya Mahasabha, an organisation of the surrendered militants
of the United Liberation Front of Asom (SULFA).
Asomiya Pratidin photo. |
CPI for new front to cheek BJP
GUWAHATI, April 7: The Communist Party of India (CPI) is of the view that efforts should be made to
avoid division of the anti-BJP votes in the State and called for an alliance of the left, democratic and
secular political parties. Talking to The Assam Tribune here today, senior CPI leader, Sri Promode
Gogoi, who resigned from the AGP-led Ministry recently, said that efforts are on to form an alliance of
the constituents of the Peoples' Front. He said that CPI Rajya Sabha member Drupad Borgohain
yesterday had informal talks with the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Tarun
Gogoi about the possibility of an alliance between the Left, democratic and secular forces. He said that
nothing concrete has so far emerged out of the meeting. Sri Gogoi said that the BJP has been trying its
best to come to power in Assam with the help of the AGP and expressed apprehension that the party
would use its money power and the administration. He said that the main target of the CPI is to prevent
the BJP from establishing its foothold in Assam as "the party would destroy the very social fabric of
Assam with its policies." [AT]
AGP seeks time to respond
BJP serves ultimatum on seat-sharing
From Kalyan Barooah
NEW DELHI, April 8: In a new twist to the ongoing political stalemate, the BJP State unit today
served an ultimatum on the AGP to concede to their demand for 50 seats. The BJP has asked the
regional party to respond by Monday, a senior leader of the party told The Assam Tribune. The
decision to serve an ultimatum on the AGP was taken at a meeting held at Union Minister of State for
Water Resources Bijoya Chakraborty's house last evening. The BJP's State executive members
including the State president, Rajen Gohain, member of the national executive, Kabindra Purkayastha
besides the general secretary in charge for North-east, Sunil Shastri attended the meeting. [AT]
Irate BJP workers ransack party office
GUWAHATI, April 8: Broken chairs, smashed photoframes, a twisted signboard, torn flags and
festoons, shards of glass -- they all lay scattered at the headquarters of the Bharatiya Janata Party
(BJP) at Rajgarh Road here this afternoon. No, it was not a typhoon that has visited here, but a
depressing reminder of a sudden 'visit' by party workers, apparently unhappy with the party leadership's
decision to seek an electoral understanding with the ruling Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), which, till the
other day, was the party's main foe along with the Congress. [AT]
Irate BJP workers again smashed the party's head office at
Rajgarh on April 8 opposing the alliance with the AGP. A
similar incident had taken pace on April 7 also.
Photos:
The Assam Tribune [Left] and Asomiya Pratidin [Right]. |
Autonomy to ethnic groups to be ABSU's poll plank
By R Dutta Choudhury
GUWAHATI, April 8: Meaningful autonomy with constitutional safeguards to the ethnic groups of
Assam will be the main poll plank of the All Bodo Students' Union (ABSU) and its associate
organisations in the ensuing Assembly elections in the State, said the ABSU adviser, Sri Urkhau Gwra
Brahma. Talking to The Assam Tribune here today, Sri Brahma said that the indigenous people of
Assam must fight together for their survival as the their identity was under threat due to wrong policies of
the successive governments and unabated influx of foreigners, which changed the population pattern of
the State. He revealed that the ABSU already had talks with Karbi, Tiwa and Mising groups with a bid to
fighting together for meaningful autonomy to the tribal groups. [AT]
Seat-sharing issue with AGP resolved
BJP to contest in 44 constituencies
From Kalyan Barooah
NEW DELHI, April 9: The ruling Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today
sealed the electoral pact to fight the forthcoming Assembly polls. Under the agreement the AGP and its
allies would field candidates in 92 seats, and the BJP in 44 constituencies. The significant aspect of the
deal is that both the parties would have friendly contests in 10 LACs, where they reserved the right to
field their own candidates. The constituencies predictably are those contentious ones on which the two
parties faile to come to an agreement. [AT]
BJP workers protest against tie-up continues
GUWAHATI, April 9: Even as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the ruling Asom Gana Parishad
(AGP) struck a deal today to contest the ensuing Assembly polls in the State together, the grassroots
level BJP workers here continued to oppose the alliance. For the third day since Saturday, BJP
workers held demonstrations inside the premises of the party's state headquarters here. Unlike the
previous two days, however, the protest today was peaceful. With almost all the senior leaders away in
New Delhi, the middle rung party leaders were hard-pressed in explaining why the party had to tie-up
with the AGP, which was a political foe till just a few weeks ago. [AT]
AGP joins NDA, may get berth at Centre
NEW DELHI, April 9: The ruling AGP is likely to get a berth at the NDA Council of Ministers in the
wake of the regional party formally joining the NDA fold. A hint to this affect was given by the Union
Home Minister, L.K. Advani. The BJP State unit may not be too happy about the alliance but the Union
Home Minister today appeared very pleased with the development saying that though the AGP has
joined the NDA alliance only today, it has been cooperating with the Centre for last three years.Earlier,
welcoming the AGP into the NDA fold, the Union Home Minister today left no one in doubt that the
illegal infiltration is going to be their major election plank in the polls. [AT]
CPI to contest 17 seats in Assam
SIBSAGAR, April 9: CPI, which recently snapped ties with the
AGP for its proposed alliance with the BJP, will contest 17 of the
126 Assembly constituencies in the May 10 election in the
State. CPI Rajya Sabha MP Drupad Borgohain said 17
candidates had been selected. In Sivasagar district, the party
would put up candidates in all the six seats, he said. [AT]
Election Officer recalled
HALEM, April 9: The Election Commission of India has
disapproved the State government sanctioned election office at
Gohpur sub-division. The State government had also appointed
an election officer but after the EC's order the DC Sonitpur had to
recall the officer. The work concerning the elections are now
going on in the election office of Biswanath sub-division. [AT]
Cong main enemy of state : CM
GUWAHATI, April 10: The Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) president, Sri Prafulla Kumar Mahanta today
described the Congress as the "main enemy of Assam" and said that the AGP decided to go for a poll
tie-up with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to defeat the Congress. Addressing a press conference at
the Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi airport immediately on his arrival from New Delhi after clinching the
seat sharing arrangement with the BJP, Sri Mahanta said that the proposal for the alliance came from
the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the AGP, after series of discussions with the BJP, the
main constituent of the NDA, finalised the seat sharing arrangement. [AT]
Sealing of candidates list
State Congmen caught unawares
NEW DELHI, April 10: The unprecedented act of sealing of all the lists of candidates by the AICC
Central Election Observer, Jagdish Tytler, has stumped the Assam Congressmen. The sealed
documents are expected to be released at the Central Screening Committee scheduled to get under
way here tomorrow. When the Central Election Observer at the end of the State Election Committee
(SEC) meeting asked all the members to leave behind their documents pertaining to the selection
process he caught the members of the committee unawares. [AT]
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