GUWAHATI, May 22 - With the long wait finally about to be over as the results of the Lok Sabha elections will be declared tomorrow, each major political party in the State today claimed to have secured the support of the electorate and exuded confidence of doing well in the biggest democratic exercise in the world.
The ruling BJP said that it is confident of winning 10 seats in Assam, while principal Opposition party Congress asserted that it will emerge victorious by winning at least six to eight constituencies of the State.
�We fielded our own candidates in 10 out of the 14 Lok Sabha constituencies of Assam and we are confident of bagging all the 10 seats. In addition, we also expect our ally AGP to put up a tough fight in the Kaliabor and Barpeta seats. Overall, the NDA under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is sure to return to power for another term and the Assam BJP will make a contribution in the process,� State BJP spokesperson Rupam Goswami told The Assam Tribune today.
He added, �Our confidence is based on the performance of our government, coupled with party�s organizational strength. The Modi government�s development agenda benefitted crores of Indian people. Schemes are reaching the intended beneficiaries and the earlier existing system of �middlemen� has been eliminated. Modi�s leadership qualities have been appreciated not only by citizens of India but also by people across the world.�
Goswami said that the �clean image� of the Modi government and its tough stand against corruption and nepotism have brought about a positive image of the BJP among the masses.
�In addition, there is the issue of nationalism. The Modi government has shown the political will to fight terrorism and given a free hand to the armed forces against such terrorist elements. Political interference in the day-to-day administration has come down both at the Centre and in the States ruled by the BJP. That is why the Assam Police could crack the case of the recent grenade attack in Guwahati in such a short time,� said the BJP spokesperson.
He claimed that there is an undercurrent in favour of the ruling NDA, which resulted in not only Assam but the entire country recording the highest-ever Lok Sabha poll turnout.
�All segments of the society, and specially the youths, are optimistic about the future. People believe that Modi is trying to change the country�s narrative,� said Goswami.
On the other hand, the Congress party believes that the country will have a �non-BJP� government after the election results are out.
�We are very much hopeful that people have cast their votes in favour of secular forces. In Assam, a large segment of voters exercised their franchise against the party which is trying to bring in the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill. The Modi government failed to fulfill any of its commitments during its five-year tenure in office. So the people decided to oppose the BJP and ensure that it does not return to power. And naturally, we are the biggest beneficiary of the voters� disenchantment with the BJP,� said Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) general secretary and senior spokesperson Apurba Bhattacharya.
He said that all the candidates fielded by the Congress party in Assam are �capable and efficient persons�.
�The mood on the days when polling took place clearly points towards a non-BJP government coming to power at the Centre. And, the Congress unit of Assam will contribute to it. We are expecting to win at least six to eight seats in Assam,� said Bhattacharya.
He added that the decision of the AIUDF to refrain from fielding candidates in a majority of the seats benefitted the Congress by preventing division of anti-BJP votes.
Meanwhile, the AIUDF is confident of doing well in the limited number of constituencies it contested.
�Our party had an understanding with the United People�s Party Liberal (UPPL) in four constituencies, including three seats where we contested and one in which UPPL fielded its own candidate. We believe we will together win at least three of these seats. The figure could go up to include all four seats as well,� said AIUDF general secretary Champak Kalita.
He claimed that NDA�s overall number nationwide will fall by over 100 seats compared to the 2014 elections.
�In the best case scenario for the NDA, the ruling front will win at most around 235 seats, which will be almost 40 short of majority. We believe that a non-BJP government is going to come to power, which will include the Congress and regional and secular parties. AIUDF will have a role to play in such a government. We expect to secure at least one ministerial berth in such a non-BJP dispensation,� said Kalita.
He claimed that the electorate in Assam cast their votes against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill.
In the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP had secured seven seats in Assam. The Congress and the AIUDF had emerged victorious from three constituencies each, while one seat was won by an Independent candidate.
