By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,
Guwahati: With the first phase of the Lok Sabha election is approaching on April 7 for the five seats in Assam, political parties have geared up their preparation in the midst of speculation, controversies and allegations. For these five seats mostly of the upper Assam, several big guns are featured including two union ministers – DoNER minister Paban Singh Ghatowar and union minister of state for tribal affairs Ranee Narah.
The list also includes state BJP president Sarbananda Sonowal, a veteran sitting MP Bijoy Krishna Handique who has been in that position for the sixth consecutive time. Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi’s son gaurav Gogoi will also fight to start his political career who has filed nomination from Kaliabor constituency.
Besides, there are three reformed Ulfa militants, a super crorepati who was rejected this time by Congress Mani Kumar Subba and a senior journalist turned politician Manoram Gogoi among the 48 candidates. The last date of withdrawal of candidature is March 24.
The highest number of candidates is in Lakhimpur constituency where sitting Congress MP and Union minister of state for tribal welfare Ranee Narah is pitted against 13 rivals, including BJP’s state unit president Sarbananda Sonowal.
On the other hand, in Dibrugarh, DoNER minister Paban Singh Ghatowar is battling against 10 rivals to retain his seat. Meanwhile, in the Jorhat constituency if sitting MP and former DoNER minister Bijoy Krishna Handique succeeds will witness a record of winning for the seventh consecutive time.
He is pitted against a former tea tribe student leader Kamakhya Tasa and journalist turned politician Manoram Gogoi who will be fighting for Aam Admi Party. Then, for the Tezpur constituency, which is the state’s cultural capital, former Congress MP Mani Kumar Subba who was rejected by the party for a ticket has filed nomination as an independent candidate to fight against his party man Bhupen Borah. Asom Gana Parishad’s (AGP) sitting Joseph Toppo will also give a tough fight in the battle.
The Kaliabor constituency will see state chief minister Tarun Gogoi’s son Gaurav Gogoi fighting for the seat for the first time. The 31-year-old junior Gogoi has done his Masters in public administration from New York University and also holds a bachelors degree in electrical engineering. On his debut, he is pitted against AGP’s most successful Lok Sabha candidate Arun Kumar Sharma besides against two reformed Ulfa rebels as his opponents, including one from BJP, in this seat.
On the other hand, a section of people from the minority communities including the students’ bodies seem to be offended with the activity of All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), though the party led by perfume baron Badruddin Ajmal was formed with the view to cater the needs of the minority communities.
All Assam Minority Students’ Union (AAMSU) even once threatened to boycott the party chief Badruddin Ajmal in minority dominated areas in the state. Going one step ahead lesser known students’ organization – Muslim Students’ Union of Assam (MUSA) has vowed to work against voting the party during the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls.
“It’s known to all that AIUDF was formed with the view to work for the uplift of the minority communities of the state and elsewhere but we have not seen any such action of the party. They have been blackmailing the minority community for the sake of votes just like Congress. Their work has revealed that AIUDF is another side of the same coin,” AAMSU general secretary Rejaul Sarkar Karim told TwoCirclec.net.
Karim also alleged that the party has been doing ‘dirty politics’ helping congress in other ways citing the example of Rajya Sabha election. “Even now, for the Lok Sabha elections, the party has not thinking seriously for the development. For example, in spite of having better candidate in Barpeta, the party has chosen to give the ticket to Sirajuddin Ajmal, brother if chief Badruddin Ajmal who does not have any connection to the people of the constituency,” Karim added.
Lack of development has been a major worry for the students’ bodies. MUSA, on the other hand, has vowed to act against AIUDF in the state in the Lok Sabha elections. “A party like AIUDF was needed for the development of downtrodden minority communities but when we have surveyed the constituencies of AIUDF, there is no sign of development. We have realized AIUDF has been doing business in the name of welfare of minorities and religious sentiments,” said Badrul Islam, president of MUSA.
The students’ bodies also expressed their displeasure at the party’s take in solving the major problems of the state including Doubtful voters and erosion problem.
AIUDF formed aiming to protect the democratic rights and to empower the minorities and down trodden of the society on October 2 in 2005. Later the party expanded its wing in other states in 2009. In 2006 assembly elections, the party won 10 seats out of 126 constituencies.
In the general election in 2009, the party managed to win only one seat from Dhubri Lok Sabha. In 2011 assembly elections AIUDF won 18 seats and emerged as the largest opposition party in the state.
Many on the other hand have alleged that AIUDF has been planning to help the Congress in several seats by fielding weaker candidates.