By IANS
Guwahati : The ‘Modi effect’ has been felt in the distant northeast with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Assam promising to penetrate into rural areas of the region’s largest state by making an impact during the staggered panchayat elections that begin Dec 31.
“Narendra Modi’s victory in Gujarat indicates the BJP’s growing influence in the country and Assam is no exception,” state BJP president Ramen Deka said Monday.
He added that the party is all set to make its mark during the coming rural polls in Assam.
On Sunday, the Assam BJP top brass led a massive car rally across the state’s biggest city Guwahati, accompanied by supporters who were beating drums and cymbals to celebrate the party’s victory in Gujarat.
“We shall replicate the Gujarat victory in the panchayat polls in Assam. We are very much in people’s minds,” former union minister and senior state BJP leader Bijoya Chakraborty told IANS.
Earlier this month, the BJP and its dominant partner, the Autonomous State Demand Committee (ASDC), had won the elections at the North Cachar Hills Autonomous District Council in southern Assam.
While the ASDC won 12 seats in the 27-member elective council, the BJP bagged nine seats. The Congress, which was in power in the autonomous council for most terms since the establishment of this politico-administrative structure in 1954, could manage just three seats.
The BJP, however, suffers from the lack of a major ally in the state with the potential to turn the tide against its main rival, the ruling Congress.
Earlier, electoral understanding between the BJP and the state’s main regional party, the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), did not click with the combine failing to halt the Congress’ poll triumph.
The BJP at present has 10 legislators in the 126-member Assam Assembly.