By IANS,
Guwahati : Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L.K. Advani Wednesday lashed out at the Congress government in Assam for its “corruption ridden misrule”, while the ruling party hit back saying the state did not need “imported leaders to give sermons”.
“The worst phase of Indian democracy is the corruption-ridden misrule of the Congress-led government in Assam and at the centre. It is time to oust the Congress party and vote for the BJP,” Advani told an election rally in the eastern town of Raha.
The second and final phase of voting in 64 of the 126 assembly seats is scheduled April 11. An estimated 73 percent polling was recorded in the first phase vote April 4.
“Everywhere you find scams and scandals and Assam is no exception. We are sure the people of Assam would get rid of the Congress this time and give us a chance to rule the state,” Advani said.
Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi too launched a blistering counter-attack on the BJP saying Assam don’t want “imported leaders” to give sermons to the people.
“I think we have many Hema Malini’s in Assam and we don’t need Narendra Modi or Vijay Goel or Advani to preach and give sermons to the people of Assam,” Gogoi said at a meeting in Dhubri town.
“The people of Assam are averse to communal politics.”
A bitter slanging match has been on between the Congress and the main opposition Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) as well.
“Maybe in Assam’s history you would not find a government like the present one that is mired by all sorts of corruption charges amounting to more than Rs.2,000 crore of central funds,” AGP president Chandra Mohan Patowary said.
“The people of Assam are sick and tired of hearing the name of the Gandhi family tagged to each and every welfare scheme introduced in the state.”
“Undoubtedly, the Congress rule in Assam is coming to an end,” the AGP president said.
But the chief minister was more than optimistic.
“We are forming the next government and with a margin more than the 2006 assembly elections,” Gogoi said.