GUWAHATI, April 29 � Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Friday asserted that the Congress would be in a position to form the next government on its own strength, but he also maintained that the party would not be averse to accepting the support of the AIUDF.
Addressing mediapersons here, Gogoi said that the new government would be in a comfortable position financially as the cash balance was much better than what it was in 2001, when the Congress took over from the AGP.
�When we came to power in 2001, the cash balance was just Rs 81.90 crore and now it is Rs 6410 crore,� said Gogoi claiming that the Congress government has succeeded in improving the fiscal position despite the immense expenditure incurred on development activities.
Highlighting the achievements of his government, Gogoi said that every sector had registered growth during the Congress rule and even rice production had increased spectacularly. �The State has registered 8.3 percent increase in production of rice over the previous record production of 40.70 lakh MT in 2008-09. This is a significant achievement under any yardstick,� he said adding that Assam has also been recognized as the best performer amongst the eastern States of India in implementation of the National Food Security Mission.
Gogoi said that under the Congress rule, the law and order situation of Assam has improved and the government succeeded in bringing all the insurgent outfits to the negotiating table excepting a few.
Targeting the opposition, Gogoi said by continuously chanting that the Congress has failed to bring development, the opposition has only reflected its ignorance about economics. �The opposition has only one thought�that of power,� he remarked and referring to BJP national general secretary Vijay Goel without taking his name said that the members of the saffron party had an inclination towards beating their own drum.
On the other hand, Gogoi whose government has been accused of patronizing corruption by the opposition and the civil society groups said that his government has done much to check corruption than the others. �We have handed 17 cases related to corruption to the CBI,� he informed and stressed the necessity to change the system and generating awareness amongst the masses to eliminate corruption.
On being asked if he was looking towards being the Chief Minister for the third term, Gogoi said that he would be content to be an ordinary Congressman in the event of being the Chief Minister or not.
