Guwahati, March 28: Buoyed by its success in Rajya Sabha polls, the ruling Congress today finalised its gameplan for the April 9 BTC polls keeping in mind the interests of the BPF, its ally in the government, which the party doesn’t want to provoke in any manner and endanger the alliance before the 2011 Assembly elections.
PCC sources said a guarded Congress leadership has laid down dos and don’ts when it comes to dealing with the BPF, which runs the BTC. The party has also decided to keep chief minister Tarun Gogoi out of the campaign.
“We have to do a lot of tightrope walk to ensure it is a friendly contest in letter and spirit. We will be exploiting public sentiments against the BPF in our favour by harping on development and peace, our party’s ideology, what our government has done in the BTAD. There will be no attack on individuals, especially BPF candidates and leaders, with whom we have very cordial ties, reflected from their smooth support to our two successful Rajya Sabha candidates,” a source said.
The message was conveyed to the 23 candidates and the BTAD leaders at a PCC meeting at Rajiv Bhawan lasting for over three hours.
PCC president Bhubaneswar Kalita, vice-president Y.L. Karna (in-charge of BTAD) and secretary Rana Khan attended the meeting wherein the candidates aired their concerns and expectations from the party. The PCC also released the list of office-bearers, ministers and campaigners on active poll duty.
The Bhumidhar Barman-led BTAD poll committee also met in the evening. There are in all 40 seats in the BTC.
Trinamul Congress, which fielded four candidates of its own, today extended support to six Independents, according to office-bearer of the state unit, Debashish Dutta.
The candidates, however, apprehend “rigging” and “abuse” of official powers by sitting BTC councillors despite the State Election Commission having assured free and fair polls after a three-day extensive tour last week.
So far, 18 additional companies of paramilitary forces have been deployed in the BTAD and more would go if required.
Besides, 26 Assam Civil Service officers have been exclusively deployed from outside the autonomous district to maintain law and order and enforce the model code of conduct.
“We have also increased the number of polling booths by 500, so there is less crowding and less travelling for voters. We have also assigned 10 observers,” state election commissioner Biren Dutta said.
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PCC sources said a guarded Congress leadership has laid down dos and don’ts when it comes to dealing with the BPF, which runs the BTC. The party has also decided to keep chief minister Tarun Gogoi out of the campaign.
“We have to do a lot of tightrope walk to ensure it is a friendly contest in letter and spirit. We will be exploiting public sentiments against the BPF in our favour by harping on development and peace, our party’s ideology, what our government has done in the BTAD. There will be no attack on individuals, especially BPF candidates and leaders, with whom we have very cordial ties, reflected from their smooth support to our two successful Rajya Sabha candidates,” a source said.
The message was conveyed to the 23 candidates and the BTAD leaders at a PCC meeting at Rajiv Bhawan lasting for over three hours.
PCC president Bhubaneswar Kalita, vice-president Y.L. Karna (in-charge of BTAD) and secretary Rana Khan attended the meeting wherein the candidates aired their concerns and expectations from the party. The PCC also released the list of office-bearers, ministers and campaigners on active poll duty.
The Bhumidhar Barman-led BTAD poll committee also met in the evening. There are in all 40 seats in the BTC.
Trinamul Congress, which fielded four candidates of its own, today extended support to six Independents, according to office-bearer of the state unit, Debashish Dutta.
The candidates, however, apprehend “rigging” and “abuse” of official powers by sitting BTC councillors despite the State Election Commission having assured free and fair polls after a three-day extensive tour last week.
So far, 18 additional companies of paramilitary forces have been deployed in the BTAD and more would go if required.
Besides, 26 Assam Civil Service officers have been exclusively deployed from outside the autonomous district to maintain law and order and enforce the model code of conduct.
“We have also increased the number of polling booths by 500, so there is less crowding and less travelling for voters. We have also assigned 10 observers,” state election commissioner Biren Dutta said.
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