By IANS
Guwahati : The ruling Congress in Assam has managed a convincing win at the just concluded rural polls, continuing its dream election run that began with the Lok Sabha polls in 1998.
“People have come to realise that the Congress party is with them and can feel their pulse. The masses have seen development trickling down to the grassroots,” Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi told IANS.
There were elections to about 25,500 seats of which the Congress won about 17,000 seats. Main opposition Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) managed to win in just about 3,000-odd seats with independents and others winning the rest.
Voting began Dec 31 and was held in four phases. Counting of votes began Jan 28 and the final results were announced Friday.
Elections were held in four different categories – for Zilla Parishad member, Anchalik Parishad member, Gaon Panchayat member and Gaon Panchayat president.
The Congress managed to win 15 of the 19 Zilla Parishads. The AGP is expected to get power in just two Zilla Parishads.
The Congress’ victory in panchayat elections for the second time since the last rural polls in 2001 became easier because the opposition in the state is fragmented. AGP has split into two with one of the factions led by former chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta.
The stakes this time were high for the Congress because it had been winning successive elections in Assam – the Lok Sabha polls in 1998 and 1999, the assembly polls in 2001, the panchayat polls in 2001, and again the assembly polls in 2006.
With the latest rural poll victory, the Congress camp has been swept by euphoria. But the state government faces the challenge of taking development to far-flung areas where power, drinking water, floods and road connectivity are still major problems.
“People seem to have been backing the Congress almost blindly, but this may be the party’s last chance to actually usher in rural development. If that does not happen, the party will most certainly be ousted at the first opportunity,” said Anil Bora, a college teacher.
Another cause of worry and scepticism among observers is the lack of awareness about what panchayati raj is.
“Our first task will be to impart training to all elected members. We are aware of this challenge and we hope to sensitise rural representatives,” senior minister and Assam government spokesman Ripun Bora said.
The State Institute of Rural Development (SIRD) will be undertaking an exercise to train the elected panchayat members.