Opp. bid to unite against Cong
With elections round the corner, the Opposition in Assam has started feeling the necessity of a platform to capitalise the strategic advantages they have against the ruling Congress party in the state.
It has started taking a shape with birthday’s celebration of former chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta on Friday where the leader of All India United Democratic Front Badruddin Ajmal made an “informal appeal” to the leaders of largest Opposition political parties to join the rank and present Mr Mahanta as common leader to unite Opposition on a joint platform.
A day after AIUDF made this informal appeal, Mr Promode Gogoi, senior leader of the state unit of CPI and a member of the party’s national executive, told reporters, “We, Opposition political parties have not been able to join hands successfully to put the Congress government on the back foot despite a number of scams hitting the government.”
The Congress is already under a lot of pressure over the `1000-crore NC Hills scam, with the former chief minister Mr Mahanta calling for a financial emergency in the state. A few days ago, Mr Mahanta had also pointed out financial anomalies and corruption in the public distribution system, disbursement of transport subsidy, along with implementation of other Central schemes during Tarun Gogoi’s tenure.
The CPI leader said that his party is getting ready to contest the elections and discussions are under way with like-minded parties to form a democratic alliance to defeat the ruling Congress.
“We will soon reveal the number of seats the party will contest in the elections. This is not an opportune time to disclose the details, as talks are still under way,” he said.
On the price rise issue, he said that the party was trying to form a common platform and then raise the issue with the Centre. “Without a common platform, it would be difficult,” he felt while indicating that many other like-minded forces would join hand if opposition decides to unite. (EOM)
—
Post new comment