Only Cong can fulfil dreams of Assamese people, says Gaurav Gogoi - Hindustan Times
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Only Cong can fulfil dreams of Assamese people, says Gaurav Gogoi

Hindustan Times | By, Tingkhong
Mar 30, 2016 09:12 PM IST

Gaurav Gogoi, Congress’ star campaigner in Assam, addressed election rally at Ouphulia in Tingkhong on Wednesday.

Gaurav Gogoi, Congress’ star campaigner in Assam, addressed election rally at Ouphulia in Tingkhong on Wednesday.

Highlights of Gogoi’s speech at Ouphulia

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- Congress is the only party that thinks of youth and women empowerment, BJP fakes it.

- BJP has deprived tea garden workers by slashing their development funds.

- BJP is like potato chips packet, few chips and mostly hawa.

- BJP promised change 2 years ago, that change is communalisation.


3:00pm
Gogoi is now campaigning at Margherita constituency in Tinsukia district of Assam. Congress has fielded former minister Pradyut Bordoloi against BJP’s Bhaskar Sarma in this constituency.


1:30pm

12:50pm
Gogoi is yet to arrive at the venue, but he is replying to the questions asked on Twitter.


Question from @stephencarvalh9
Why Gogoi didn’t do seat sharing with AIUDF?

Gogoi’s reply
Congress is confident of forming a strong government on its own merit.

Question from @ashutoshfcs
@htTweets Website of @GauravGogoiAsm says ‘Everyone Can Make a Difference’. Does he really believe this happens in his Party?

Gogoi’s reply
Everyone has the inner spark for change especially the Congress party which fought for India’s freedom and democracy.


Question from @indiaspeaks1

What’s his prediction? Will Congress come to power again? Looking tough #AssamPolls

Gogoi’s reply
Our victory is ensured because the Congress party is the only party which can fulfil the dreams and aspirations of 3 crore Assamese people.


Question from @nehagupta2918

@htTweets How strong are Cong’s chances in #AssamPolls considering BJP’s record-win in seven of the state’s 14 Lok Sabha seats in 2014

Gogoi’s reply
After voting for peace and infrastructure development the people of Assam will vote to ensure that Congress party dream to provide employment to one member of each family becomes a reality.


11:40am
Manoj Mura from Chukarpathar village in Tingkhong said, “We got electricity, and better living conditions from Congress.”

11.30am
Bina Gogoi from Salmari Dighaliya village in Tingkhong, who is attending Gogoi’s rally, said, “Congress has ensured peace for 15 years and undertaken various development projects, given us weavers yarn, improved roads. We have faith in the party to help us more.

11am
Assam forest minister Etuwa Munda, an Adivasi, is seeking re-election from Tingkhong. He had first won the seat in 2001 but lost it to Asom Gana Parishad’s Anup Phukan, an Ahom, in 2006. He wrested the seat back in 2011.

The nerve-centre of Tingkhong is 80km from Dibrugarh town to the southeast and 70km from Tinsukia town to the south.

Tinkhong also has large swathes of paddy fields with oil wells sticking out of them as well as the tea gardens. Despite the apparent prosperity, it remains one of the most backward constituencies in eastern Assam.

The constituency has several major tea plantations, the reason why political parties prefer a member of ‘tea tribes’, or Adivasis, as their candidate. But Ahoms and related communities are a majority in this constituency of 121,571 voters, of whom 59,149 are females.

Full Coverage: Assam elections

Phukan continues to be Munda’s rival this time, but as an independent after being denied ticket because of his party’s tie-up with BJP.

Munda’s other rivals are Bimal Borah of BJP, Eliash Sichan of Jharkhand Disom Party, Mira Tanti of CPI(ML) and Dilip Bharali, an independent.

The Congress has fielded 122 candidates, a mix of youth and experience, for election to the 126-member assembly on April 4 and 11. Many party candidates hope the charisma of the Gogois – father and son – would see them through.

Polling for the first phase of polls in Assam, which has a total of one crore 98 lakh voters, will be held on April 4 for 65 seats.

The votes will be counted on May 19.

Assembly Elections: Full Coverage

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  • ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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    Rahul Karmakar was part of Hindustan Times’ nationwide network of correspondents that brings news, analysis and information to its readers. He no longer works with the Hindustan Times.

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