GUWAHATI, March 15 - The much talked about electoral alliance between the Congress and Ganashakti did not materialise as the parties failed to come into a consensus on seat sharing, particularly in Majuli Assembly constituency.
Talking to The Assam Tribune, Ganashakti president Dr Ranoj Pegu said that there were some talks between his party and the Congress, but both the parties failed to come to an agreement on the seat- sharing arrangement. He said that Ganashakti is fielding candidates from four constituencies and they failed to come into an understanding with the Congress over Majuli Assembly constituency.
Dr Pegu said that they had been working in Majuli for a long time and there was no question of giving up the seat. On the other hand, the Congress also said that as the BJP�s chief ministerial candidate Sarbananda Sonowal is contesting from the constituency, it would not be possible for the Congress to give up the seat. Finally, both the Congress and Ganashakti decided not to go ahead with the poll pact.
Replying to a question, Dr Pegu said that the Ganashakti did not directly help BJP candidate from Lakhimpur constituency, Sarbananda Sonowal in the last Lok Sabha polls. He said that they did not contest the Lok Sabha polls and requested the people to cast �conscious vote.�
On poll prospects of his party, Dr Pegu said that they were confident of a good show. �We could have fielded 10 to 12 candidates. But we decided to field only four candidates after a thorough study of our strengths. We have a good chance in those constituencies and we are concentrating only on those,� he added.
Strengthening regionalism is one of the main aims of Ganashakti and the performance of the Mising Autonomous Council under the party would give them an edge, claims Dr Pegu. He also said that the Council, under Ganashakti, was working on a transparent manner and the people of the area are getting the benefits of it.
Dr Pegu further admitted that the United People�s Front (UPF), an umbrella body of regional forces of the State, is now a defunct body. He said that when the front was formed, it was decided that the front would maintain equal distance from both the BJP and the Congress. But after the BPF forged an alliance with the BJP, the front became defunct and all the constituents would fight the polls on their own.
