GUWAHATI, March 20 - Chief Minister and Assam Congress Legislative Party (ACLP) leader Tarun Gogoi today said that the five sitting legislators from the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), who were denied tickets for the ensuing Assembly elections, are in touch with the Congress party.
Gogoi told media persons here that although they have expressed desire to join the Congress, it would not be possible for us to give all of them tickets. �We do not want to give any kind of assurances related to tickets,� he said.
Five sitting legislators including Jahan Uddin from Dhubri, Gul Akhtara Begum from Bilasipara East, Monowar Hussain from Goalpara East, Moin Uddin Ahmed from Jaleswar and Mazibur Rahman from Rupohihat found their names missing in the list that was announced by the AIUDF yesterday.
�Leaders from the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are also in touch with us,� the ACLP leader stated. He even said that the regional party had taken money from the Congress in previous elections and alleged that the regional party is good at switching positions.
Gogoi also informed that the final list of Congress candidates will be released in a day or two.
Further reacting to allegations by the opposition parties on developmental issues, Gogoi said, �If there was no development, how did Himanta Biswa Sarma manage to own a news channel and a newspaper. I also dare Sarbananda Sonowal to declare what his assets were in 2001 and what it is now.�
Gogoi also questioned the antecedents of the leaders of the AGP and BJP alleging that most of the leaders, including Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, Sarbananda Sonowal and Himanta Biswa Sarma were linked to serious offences from time to time.
�However, they are all very experts in finding the escape route,� he opined. He went on to state that Himanta Biswa Sarma joined the BJP camp largely because he wanted to come out of the charges he was facing.
The APCC also released a booklet containing excerpts of Tarun Gogoi�s speech in the Parliament on various burning issues of the State.
