Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi said here on Wednesday the Congress would land an absolute majority in the 126-member assembly this time, unlike in 2006.
Just after the 2006 elections, the Congress ended up with 54. But later it climbed to 74 following defections and the absorption of independents. If the CM's optimism proves correct, the feat of winning in three consecutive elections will be the first by any party since 1978.
This time, the party's internal assessment after the first phase of polls on Monday indicated of the 62 assembly constituencies, the Congress alone would win in 45.
"There is no doubt that the Congress will form the next government in Assam. We are heading (towards) an absolute majority," said Gogoi.
The CM said the Congress's alliance with the Bodoland People's Front would run. The BPF had won in 10 constituencies in the last assembly election.
Lambasting opposition parties such as the Asom Gana Parisad (AGP) and BJP, Gogoi alleged that the charges of corruption levelled by them against his ministers were baseless.
"My government's performance is better than that of many BJP-ruled states. (As regards) the BJP allegation's that during my tenure as chief minister Assam was lagging behind in development, I request the party's leaders to read all government documents first and then criticise," Gogoi added.
The second phase of polls is on April 11 for the remaining 64 constituencies. In this round, Congress will face tough contest in constituencies of lower and central Assam. The All India United Democratic Front eroded the Congress's minority base in those areas in the Lok Sabha elections of 2009.
{{/usCountry}}The second phase of polls is on April 11 for the remaining 64 constituencies. In this round, Congress will face tough contest in constituencies of lower and central Assam. The All India United Democratic Front eroded the Congress's minority base in those areas in the Lok Sabha elections of 2009.
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