State to get maximum forces for polls
Keep surrendered ultras under strict control : CEC

GUWAHATI, March 21: The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), Dr M S Gill has issued instruction to the State Administration and the Police to keep all the surrendered militants under strict control during the election process, particularly on the day of the polls. He has also warned that the District Magistrates and the Police would be held responsible if anything goes wrong. Addressing a press conference here today, Dr Gill said that the Election Commission has also issued instruction to confiscate all illegal weapons and take action against all the undesirable elements to ensure free and fair polls. [AT]

NCP delegation meets CEC

GUWAHATI, March 21: A delegation of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Assam called on the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Dr MS Gill here yesterday and submitted a memorandum demanding his intervention for free and fair election in the State. The delegation led by former chief minister Sarat Chandra Sinha also urged the CEC to take initiative in seizure of all illegal arms before the election. [AT]

AGP violating democratic rights : TGP

GUWAHATI, March 21: The Trinamool Gana Parishad (TGP) has accused the ruling Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) of violating democratic rights. Addressing a press conference here today, TGP general secretary Atul Bora alleged that despite strict norms, a section of AGP supporters had covered the graffities of the party with black paint in Dispur constituency. Narrating the incident, Bora revealed that the members of the AGP at the instance of DSP Swapan Dasgupta had erased the graffities in several places of the constituency defying norms. 'After the incident, we filed an FIR with the Jorabat police station, but no action was initiated,' he alleged. [AT]

AGP, Cong brace up for poll battle in Morigaon

MORIGAON, March 22: the main political parties -- the AGP and the Congress have already started bracing up for the ensuing State Assembly election. Sri Horen Bora, ex-MLA and Secretary of the Morigaon District AGP Committee told this correspondent over telephone that they had started necessary preparations for contesting and winning too. The AGP party has started holding meetings in different villages under three LACs of Morigaon. [AT]

AAMSU hints at snapping AGP ties

NEW DELHI, March 22: Peeved at the ruling Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) Government for betraying the cause of the minorities, the All Assam Minority Students Union (AAMSU) hinted at the possibility of opposing the regional party in the forthcoming Assembly polls. The AAMSU led by Samsul Hoque, its president, is believed to be among the strongest of the minority students bodies in the State and has a considerable sway among the community in the Brahmaputra valley. However, the students' organisation is nursing a grouse against the regional party for not keeping its word regarding the welfare of the minorities in the State. [AT]

'ULFA may disrupt polls'

GUWAHATI, March 22: After lying low for sometime, the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) seems to be regrouping again with the ensuing polls in mind. According to intelligence reports, a group of about 40 to 50 hardcore members of the outfit, headed by senior leader Drishti Rajkhowa have already come down from their camps in Bhutan, highly placed police sources said. Police said that according to information available, one group has taken shelter in the Goalpara-Meghalaya bordering areas, and five members of that group were killed in a recent encounter with the Meghalaya police. Another group is reported to be moving around in the areas bordering Kamrup and Nalbari districts. [AT]

TGP memo to CEC

GUWAHATI, March 23: A delegation of Trinamool Gana Parishad (TGP) led by its general secretary Atul Bora submitted a memorandum to the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Dr MS Gill through chief electoral officer seeking his intervention to stop 'unlawful activities instigated by the AGP members in Dispur constituency, informs a party statement. [AT]

AGP leader Tirtha Barkataky and socialist leader Lakshmikanta Saikia joining Congress (I) party. Asomiya Pratidin photo.

Cong ticket seekers flocking Delhi
By Kalyan Barooah

NEW DELHI, March 23: With the State Assembly polls drawing closer, hectic lobbying by ticket seekers has begun, with Congress workers flocking the Capital daily in hundreds forcing State leadership to flee to Assam. Majority of the senior State Congress leadership including its president, Tarun Gogoi left for Assam taking advantage of the ongoing turmoil in Parliament over the Tehelka affair, even as ticket aspirants along with their supporters pitched camps here. If you happen to be on a visit to the Capital and do not find accommodation in the two State guest houses do not be surprised for both are packed to capacity with ticket seekers. Apart from the two Bhavans, aspirants are also running their campaigns from various hotels in Paharganj. [AT]

Citizens' meet asks politicians to spell out stand on Neamati

JORHAT, March 23: The situation is akin to Emperor Nero fiddling while Rome was burning. With over four lakh people right from Neamatighat to Kaliabor having been compelled to 'live on the edge' as the mighty Brahmaputra hungrily gobbles up landmass along its banks with alarming regularity every year, politicians claiming to represent the said areas but 'sitting pretty' till date, have lately been asked by the distressed citizens to make their stand clear on the issue latest by March 24. [AT]

EC to announce poll schedule by month end

NEW DELHI, March 23: The Election Commission is likely to announce the schedule for Assembly polls in Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Assam, Kerala and Pondicherry by the month end. EC sources said the poll schedule is likely to be announced after the return of Chief Election Commissioner M S Gill from Tamil Nadu. [AT]

Cong to project Tarun Gogoi as CM

GUWAHATI, March 24: The State unit of the Congress has decided to project its president and the sitting Lok Sabha MP, Sri Tarun Gogoi as the chief ministerial candidate in the run-up to the Assembly election in the State. Replying to a query from the newsmen during a press conference this morning, the leader of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP), Sri Silvius Condpan said the Assam Pradesh Congress president, Sri Gogoi would be the next Chief Minister if the party was voted to power in the forthcoming Assembly election. [AT]

State political scene still hazy

GUWAHATI, March 24: With Assembly polls in Assam round the corner a clear picture of the political alignments is yet to emerge and the major parties are still holding discussions to come into understanding with smaller groups. Mentionably, West Bengal, the process of announcement of the names of the candidates is on and the ruling Left Front has already announced the names of its candidates, while in Assam, the partners of the ruling alliance are not sure whether to stick together or not. The Communist Party of India (CPI) is yet to announce its decision on whether to stay with the present alliance as some differences have cropped up between the CPI and the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP). [AT]

Udalguri, Paneri, Mazbat LACs
Unemployed youths to play active role during Assembly poll

UDALGURI, March 24: The Udalguri Mahakuma Nibanua Parishad is going to play a very active role in the forthcoming Assembly election in the three constituencies of Udalguri, Paneri and Mazbat under Udalguri civil subdivision. This was made known to the mediapersons in a Parishad press meet here on March 20 last by the Parishad members. Sri Nitul Bharali, one of the executive members of the Parishad, alleged that the State Government had been adopting a gdivide and rule policyh and during this AGP regime, the unemployment problem reached an unimaginable height. The educated unemployed youths of the State are the worst hit by the policy of the AGP-led government, he added. [AT]

CPI to stay in AGP-led front

GUWAHATI, March 25: The Assam State Committee of the Communist Party of India (CPI) today finally decided to stay on with the four-party alliance. The party arrived at the decision at a two-day meeting of the State executive, which was chaired by member of Parliament, Sri Drupad Borgohain. Talking to The Assam Tribune after the meeting, senior CPI leader and State Flood Control Minister, Sri Promode Gogoi said that the State executive of the party had a detailed discussion on the prevailing political scenario and decided to work for strengthening and expanding the existing alliance. Sri Gogoi revealed that the CPI State executive today stressed the need for formulating a common minimum programme as some differences cropped up among the alliance partners because of lack of a common minimum programme. [AT] AGP, ABSU heading for poll alliance

GUWAHATI, March 25: Keeping aside old enmity, Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and All Bodo Students' Union (ABSU) are heading for an electoral alliance. The leadership of both the parties have completed three rounds of parleys on seat sharing. Though the final picture is yet to emerge, it is learnt that ABSU has sought 18 seats. According to AGP sources ABSU is the hot favourite among the political groups this time in view of its growing strong base in several pockets of lower Assam districts. [AT] Mangaldoi LAC (R)
Straight contest between Cong, AGP

MANGALDOI, March 25: Mangaldoi LAC (R) is going to see a contest between the AGP and Congress as the image of the BJP is at a low ebb, especially after the tehelka.com revelations. The total number of voters in the Mangaldoi LAC(R) seat are 1,40,002, out of which 72,831 are male and 67,171 female. The AGP candidate here is Hiren Kr Das, sitting MLA and the Congress candidate would be either Basanta Kr Das, vice-president of Darrang Youth Congress or ex-Minister Nakul Ch. Das. [AT]

AGP losing ground in Nagaon sub-division

NAGAON, March 26: The ruling Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) is fast losing ground in seven Assembly constituencies in Nagaon sub-division, while, the Congress and the BJP are gradually gaining ground. In the 1996 polls, the AGP candidates were elected to the Assembly from five of the seven constituencies, while, Congress managed to win the remaining two seats. Though the Chief Minister, Sri Prafulla Kumar Mahanta defeated his rivals by huge margins in the 1991 and 1996 polls from the Barhampur constituency, this time he may face competition from his Congress and BJP rivals. [AT]

Golaghat, Bokakhat & Dergaon LACs
Parties gear up pre-poll activities to woo voters

GOLAGHAT, March 26: With Assembly elections round the corners, political parties have started gearing up their activities to woo the voters in all the four LACs of the Golaghat district. The main contenders for power in Golaghat-95 Assembly constituency are AGP, BJP, Congress (I) and each of these parties has by now embarked in hectic pre-poll exercises. In Golaghat constituency, AGP candidate Atul Bora is sure to get the AGP ticket as he is now the standing AGP MLA of Golaghat constituency. The Congress(I) party of the district Congress(I) committee has sent Nogen Neog, minister of Congress (I) Budhin Saikia and Semina Sultana to the APCC (I). [AT]

4-party alliance meet inconclusive

GUWAHATI, March 26: The meeting of the four-party ruling alliance in the State held here yesterday, remained inconclusive. The next date for the meeting of the partner parties of the alliance has been fixed on April 4 next. According to alliance sources, yesterday's meeting discussed the common issues like economic development of the State, floods and insurgency, among others, for preparing a common platform for the alliance partners. [AT]

Assembly poll dates likely tomorrow

NEW DELHI, March 27: The election schedule for the five States going to polls, including Assam, is likely to be announced on March 29, sources in the Election Commission said. The date for the State polls is expected to be finalised here tomorrow. It is now almost certain that polls would be held towards the first week of May and the probable date that is doing the rounds here is May 5. [AT]

Straight contest in Kaliabor seat likely

KALIABOR, March 27: Pre-poll wind is blowing here over the 89 Kaliabor constituency comprising five mauzas, namely Chatial, Darbagari, Pubtharia, Borbhagiya, Darsalona and a part of Bheleuguri and Lawkhowa of Kaliabor sub-division under Nagaon district. The total number of voters in 90,133. Political parties AGP, Cong-I and BJP are trying all means to test their popularity for the ensuing election. The trend, however, is not very clear. Neck-and-neck fighting between AGP and Congress-I is expected in this Kaliabor constituency which is most politically sensitive and the citadel of AGP since its inception. [AT]

Infighting in BJP over tie up with TGP

NEW DELHI, March 27: The move to form alliance with Atul Bora led Trinamool Gana Parishad (TGP) has triggered an infighting within the Assam State unit of the BJP. The issue has now been forwarded to Central Election Committee of the party which is meeting here on March 29. The uneasy truce that prevailed between the rival fractions belonging to State unit president, Rajen Gohain and Union Minister of State for Water Resources, Bijoya Chakravorty seems to be over following sharp differences between the camps over aligning with the TGP. [AT]

Bongaigaon to witness 3-cornered contest

BONGAIGAON, March 27: As the Assembly polls in Assam are round the corner, the pre-poll activities have already been geared up by all the political parties in 32 Bongaigaon Assembly constituency. It is hoped that this constituency will witness a triangular contest among Congress (I), Asom gana Parishad (AGP) and Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) this time. No political party has so far finalised the candidates for 32 LAC Bongaigaon. [AT]

Campaign in Lumding rural areas yet to start

LUMDING, March 27: The prepoll activities have already been geared up by various political parties in Lumding (92) constituency. But the political parties art yet to intensify the campaign in the rural area. This time the constituency will witness a triangular contest, involving the Cong (I), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Asom Gana Parishad. [AT]

'AGP, BJP seeking AASU support'

GUWAHATI, March 28: With the State Assembly polls approaching, the major political parties are trying to gather the support of the non-political organisations and both the ruling Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have sought the support of the All Assam Students' Union (AASU). [AT]

Selection of party candidates
[Letters to the Editor, The Assam Tribune]

Sir,

The capital city of the State has three Assembly segments. They are Dispur, East Guwahati and West Guwahati, although Jalukbari, Palasbari, Chaygaon, Boko are also within the territorial jurisdiction of the Guwahati Parliamentary Constituency. More ...

Yours etc., SUREN RAM PHOOKUN, Guwahati. [AT]

CPM for expanding 4-party ties

GUWAHATI, March 29: The Assam State committee of the CPM is in favour of expanding the existing four-party alliance with the inclusion of other like-minded parties. Talking to The Assam Tribune her today, the secretary of the state unit of the CPM, Hemen Das, said that his party has no objection if any like-minded democratic and secular party is included in the alliance to strengthen it. He said that the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) has initiated discussion with the Holiram Terang faction of the Autonomous State Demand Committee (ASDC) and the All Bodo Students' Union (ABSU). Das said that the CPM decided to stay with the alliance as the AGP finally announced its decision of not forging an alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). [AT]

EC freezes ASDC's name, symbol

GUWAHATI, March 29: The Election Commission of India (EC) has frozen the name Autonomous State Demand Committee (ASDC) and the symbol allotted to it namely 'Boy and Girl' in view of the unresolved dispute between the two splinter groups of the ASDC having base at Karbi Anglong and NC Hills districts of the State. [AT]

New tribal front for polls likely

GUWAHATI, March 29: The three-day 32nd conference of the Assam Tribal Sangha (ATS) got underway at Tamulpur in Nalbari district today. The conference assumes significance keeping in view the forthcoming Assembly election in which a new political party is likely to emerge. Altogether nine political parties including Autonomous State Demand Committee (ASDC-Rongpi faction), Mising Mimang Kebang (MMK), All Assam Tiwa Students Union (AATSU) are participating in conference. [AT]

EC bars new staff from State poll duty

DISPUR, March 29: The Election Commission, in a letter to the chief electoral officer, Assam, has directed that at the ensuing general election to the Assam Legislative Assembly, no functionary including teachers recruited after January 1, 2001, should be used for any election related duty under any circumstances, stated a release. Bhaskar Mushahary, chief electoral officer, Assam, said today that necessary instructions in this regard have already been issued to the deputy commissioners, sub-divisional officers and other heads of administrative departments of the State. [AT]

32 names recommended for Congress tickets in Barpeta district

GUWAHATI, March 29: Barpeta District Congress executive committee recommended total 32 names of aspirants for party tickets seeking to contest from eight legislative assembly segments in the district. The District Congress Committee recommended names of four candidates for each of the eight LACs. [AT]

Mahanta confident of AGP returning to power

BONGAIGAON, March 29: Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, while addressing a large election rally on March 26, at Gandhimaidan, Bongaigaon, expressed his confidence that his party would return to power again. He said his party is the only regional party which has been able to fulfil the hopes and aspirations of the people of the State irrespective of caste,creed and community. So the people of the State should strengthen the hands of the AGP for the greater interest of all the people. [AT]

Electioneering yet to gain momentum

NORTH LAKHIMPUR, March 29: Election process at the administrative level is going on in full swing while electioneering by the political parties is yet to pick up in all the four LACs of the district. A clear election scenario will emerge only after the finalisation of candidates of different parties. The ability, integrity of character and personality of the candidates will be an important factor in electing the people's representatives in the district this time round. A total of 4,58,130 voters in the district are going to elect their new representatives in the ensuing election. [AT]

Power games
[Editorial, The Assam Tribune, March 30, 2001]

It is always interesting to observe the power play on the eve of an election, more so during the election to the State Assembly as a lot is at stake for the contenders in the fray. With the notification for the Assam Legislative Assembly polls expected any day, things are hotting up as ticket aspirants make a last ditch effort to get their names included in the venerated list. Even as ticket seekers flock to Delhi for a Congress or BJP ticket, aspirants for a ruling AGP candidature are flocking to Dispur. [AT]

Mahanta opts for two-phase polls

NEW DELHI, March 30: Assam Government has scaled down its plea for a three-phase election and instead, now wants a two-phase poll in the State to ensure adequate deployment of security forces during the polls. The State Government's views were conveyed to the Chief Election Commissioner, Dr M S Gill by the Chief Minister, Sri Prafulla Kumar Mahanta here this morning. The Chief Minister's meeting with the CEC came, even as the Assam Congress here yesterday submitted a memorandum to the Election Commission of India (EC) alleging gross violation of code of conduct by the State Government. [AT]

State Cong begins selection process

NEW DELHI, March 30: Amidst hectic lobbying by ticket seekers, the Assam Congress Election Committee today begun their selection process. The process is likely to be over by Sunday. The Assam Congress president, Tarun Gogoi told this newspaper at the end of the first day of sitting that they have finalised the criteria for selection of the candidates today. The actual process of shortlisting of candidates would begin tomorrow,h he added. The meeting today chaired by Sri Gogoi, was attended by Anwara Taimur, Silvius, Condpan, Paban Singh Ghatowar, Biren Singh Ingti, Bijoy Krishna Handique, Sarat Borkotoki and Santosh Mohan Dev, besides the chief of the party's four frontal organisations. [AT]

SP rules out alliance with AGP

GUWAHATI, March 30: The State Samajwadi Party (SP) has closed its door for the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) saying there is no question of forging an alliance with a gaddar (betrayer) party. Addressing a press conference here today, national secretary, north-zone of SP, Sri Mahabir Singh said that instead of forging an alliance with the AGP, the party will fight alone in the coming Assembly election. Giving the rationale behind the party's' disappointment with the AGP, Sri Singh further said that it has started losing political base due to wrong policies. gAs SP's performance is gradually increasing it has decided to contest alone,h the senior leader said, adding that the party has received letters from the AGP expressing its willingness for alliance, but SP has already clarified its stand. [AT]

Assam Labour Party allegations

GUWAHATI, March 31: The Central committee of Labour Party has alleged that vested interest in collusion with the powers that be are preparing blue prints to annihilate certain leaders of the Party. [AT]

3-cornered contests in Dhemaji, Jonai

DHEMAJI, March 31: With the Assembly elections round the corners, various political parties have started gearing up their activities to woo voters in the two LACs of Dhemaji district. AGP, Congress and BJP are the main contenders to win the 113 Dhemaji and 114 Jonai LACs. Sri Dilip Kr Saikia, sitting MLA of AGP in 113 Dhemaji (reserved for ST) LAC is certain to get the party ticket and he will be contesting to win from Dhemaji for fourth consecutive term. On the other hand, 13 aspirants have applied for the Congress(I) party ticket from Dhemaji and from among them, the names of four aspirants have been sent to the APCC(I)'s consideration. They are Sri Hema Lagachu, Smt Sumitra Patir, Sri Durgeswar Patir and Sri Bhaben Narah. [AT]

Interesting contest on the cards in Chabua LAC

DIBRUGARH, March 31: For those who might be thinking that the State's most interesting electoral battle would be fought at Dispur, a surprise has emerged and that too, all of a sudden. The surprise is that a person no less than Union Home Minister Lal Krishna Advani wants Rebati Phukan to contest as a BJP candidate from the Chabua Assembly constituency, in the Dibrugarh district. Rebati Phukan is a childhood friend of ULFA 'C-in-C' Paresh Baruah. To add spice to the elections in the constituency, the Congress has almost decided to field the former ULFA activist, Chakra Gohain, who is now into business apart from dabbling in Congress politics. The AGP too has no choice but to field its sitting MLA and Minister of State for Health, Bhaben Baruah, never mind the large number of allegations of corruption and nepotism against him. [AT]

To check Cong, BJP plans to tie up with AGP

NEW DELHI, March 31: A casual remark by Chief Minister, Prafulla Kumar Mahanta to the Union Home Minister, LK Advani that the Congress in Assam would stand to gain from the three-cornered contest between the AGP-BJP and Congress that set the ball rolling forcing the leadership of the BJP to re-think on its poll strategy. When Sri Mahanta went to meet the Union Home Minister this Thursday, to talk about resolving the Bodo problem, even he had no idea that he would be triggering a chain of events that would turn around the political scenario in the State. A top BJP leader told The Assam Tribune that after conclusion of the official meeting on the Bodo issue, Sri Advani casually enquired about the poll scenario in the State. The Chief Minister replied that the Congress in the State had an edge thanks to the BJP. [AT]

Jamiat chief Madani tours State

GUWAHATI, March 31: Even as Congress and the ruling Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) are trying hard to woo religious minority voters in the State just begore the polls, all India Jamiat-Ulema-e-Hind president, Maulana Asad Madani made a visit to different minority-dominated areas in the State away from the media glare. Sources informed that the president of Jamiat arrived in Karimganj a few days back, then proceeded to religions minority dominated areas in Nagaon district. Maulana Madani visited areas like Hojai, Lanka, Lumding, Nilbagan, Nagaon during his two-day visit in those areas and halted for a night in a hotel in Nagaon town. [AT]

Split in AGP-led alliance likely

GUWAHATI, March 31: The future of the four-party ruling alliance hangs in balance as the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) has initiated dialogue with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for a possible poll tie-up. The Left parties -- CPI and CPM have already made it clear that they would be forced to come out of the alliance if the AGP comes closer to the BJP, while, the Samajwadi Party yesterday ruled out the possibility of a poll pact with the AGP. Commenting on the reports of a possible AGP-BJP poll alliance, senior CPI leader and State Flood Control Minister Sri Promode Gogoi said that his party took note of the reports. He said that the CPI considered the BJP as a communal reactionary and pro-imperialist party and "the CPI would have no truck with any party joining hands with the BJP." [AT]

Assembly polls in 5 States on May 10

NEW DELHI, March 31: Assam along with four States of West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry would go to a singlephase poll on May 10, with the Election Commission of India (EC) overruling Assam Government's plea for a two-phase election schedule in the State. The EC turned down the Assam Government's request on the ground that the State in the recent past had singleday poll without any major incidence of violence. [AT]