ITANAGAR, March 31 - Senior BJP leader and Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju on Sunday exuded confidence that the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) would win 21 to 22 seats in the ensuing Lok Sabha elections from the Northeastern region.
Further stating that the 2019 general elections being fought with a clear-cut agenda under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rijiju said BJP is confident of scoring �absolute majority� in the Assembly polls in Arunachal Pradesh and will win both the Lok Sabha seats in the State.
�I have seen the mood of the nation. We are the political leaders; we have to feel the pulse of the people. In North East, we have 25 Lok Sabha seats. As per reports we are getting from the ground and the feedbacks being received from the people, the Congress may not win any seat.
�...Because people of North East have given enough opportunity to Congress party for the last 60 years...This is the time for BJP. There will be few seats where our NDA partners will win in NE. I predict the BJP and our NDA partners will win atleast 21 or 22 seats in the region,� Rijiju told reporters at a press meet here.
Rijiju, who is also in the fray for re-election to the Lok Sabha from Arunachal West Parliamentary seat, said that this is the time for BJP and he is a firm believer that people of the region have understood that the region has lost its glory under the Congress regime.
�In undivided India, Dibrugarh was the highest revenue generating district in whole of India and today it�s South Mumbai. Our dream is to get back the lost glory, we have all the natural resources, we have in abundance all the necessary things which can make North East as a very important economic and commercial hub,� he added.
Talking about the much hyped �Act East� policy which envisaged opening up of trade routes with South East Asian countries with the North Eastern region, Rijijiu said, �God has been kind enough to North East, we have everything in us but we lacked the support of Government of India under Congress rule that is why Prime Minister Narendra Modi changed Look East policy to Act East policy which is backed by action,� said Rijiju, who is locked in a multi-cornered fight, especially with Congress veteran and former Chief Minister Nabam Tuki and social activist-turned-politician and Janata Dal (United) nominee Jajrum Ete.
However, Rijiju, who believes the two-time Chief Minister Nabam Tuki to be his �real opponent� for the prestigious Arunachal West seat, said Tuki has already served the State for last 25 years in various capacities and he has done his job and is left with nothing to show his mettle. He, however, added this is not a personal fight, but democratic and political one.
Arunachal Pradesh goes to polls simultaneously for the 60-member Assembly and two LS seats on April 11. The Saffron party has already won three Assembly seats � Aalo East, Yachuli and Dirang uncontested.
