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Agitation, lack of issues overshadow Assam poll process

Agitating teachers, strong dissension within the Congress and the ruling alliance besides lack of any issues have overshadowed the poll process in Assam that began today with the issue of formal notification. All the three major forces -- the Congress, the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Asom Gana Parishad-led ruling alliance -- have already declared their candidates.

However, the Congress is yet to decide its nominee in Tezpur seat. Apart from two tribal-dominated constituencies of Autonomous Districts (ST) and Kokrajhar, the contest in 12 other seats will be mainly between the BJP and the congress, with the ruling AGP being a serious contender only in Lakhimpur.

Tezpur, which was won by Mani Kumar Subba in the last election, remained controversial since a section of senior Congress leaders opposed Subba's candidature this time in view of his alleged hand in the Rs 280 billion lottery scam.

However, the pre-election fervour has been dampened by the agitating teachers of the state government who have threatened to refuse to co-operate in election work.

Teachers, who received a letter from the Election Commission directing them to join the poll duty, decided last night to return the letter by September 14. The teachers are demanding better pay and perks.

Teachers Union President Prafulla Chandra Mahanta said the step was taken due to the state government's complete apathy to their problems. He urged the chief election commissioner to intervene in the matter.

Meanwhile, the erosion of the Congress base in Jorhat district has surprised party bigwigs. A number of prominent leaders, including former state general secretary Nirmal Goswami and Pradesh Congress Committee member Sonadhar Das have joined the Nationalist Congress Party. However, the state Congress asserted the developments would have no impact on the Congress citadel from where veteran Bijoy Krishna Handique is fighting for his fifth term in the Lok Sabha.

Though the NCP had failed to make any dent in the previous two months, it finally got a shot in the arm when two rebel Congress leaders, Bolin Kuli and Prabin Deka, joined the party. But cracks have already surfaced in that party, with Mohan Basumatari and Mostafa Kamal Pasa leading the rebel group within the NCP.

The ruling coalition in the state last night finalised its list of candidates, fielding Durga Das Boro from the Guwahati seat. The AGP is contesting nine seats leaving the Communist Party of India, the Communist Party of India-Marxist and the United People's Party of Assam to contest one seat each.

The ruling coalition, which is on the defensive, has reprimanded the UPPA president and state Irrigation Minister Abdul Muhib Majumdar for making provocative statements. Majumdar, who is the ruling coalition's candidate from the prestigious Silchar seat, had reportedly said that he did not find problem in Assam becoming a Muslim-dominated state.

The statement came in for heavy flak at the last night's meeting of the ruling alliance. But

With the floods still on in parts of Golaghat and Sibsagar districts of upper Assam, campaigning is expected to pick up only after September 15 or so. The last date of filing nominations is September 14; the last date of withdrawal is September 17.

Polling will be held on October 3.

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