GUWAHATI, April 6 � Congress has become highly unpopular among the State's people for its indulging in anti-people activities and rampant corruption. The ruling party is browbeating the activists and sympathizers of the non-Congress parties to keep its boat steady in the Assembly elections. But the people of the State are for a political change this time, said former Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta. He was talking to this newspaper.
Mahanta, who is the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) candidate for both the Barhampur and Samaguri Legislative Assembly Constituencies of Nagaon district, said that this time, the AGP and the other Opposition parties have a strong network in the district.
The Congress has also made the Government officials, mainly the Forest Department officials, to contribute to its election funds in Nagaon district sumptuously. Over 27 TATA Sumo and Innova vehicles have been donated to the Congress' fleet of vehicles in Samaguri LAC alone by these officials, who are mostly based in Guwahati, Mahanta alleged.
Further, an amount of over Rs 1.5 crore has been raised by these officials to strengthen the Congress' election fund in Samaguri, he alleged.
AIUDF Nagaon district general secretary (administration) Champak Kalita said that the Congress' has made the common people of Nagaon district, particularly of Samaguri LAC, resentful with its anti-democratic posture.
The presidents as well as members of the Gaon Panchayats and the members of the Zilla Parishad, belonging to the Opposition parties are discriminated against by the ruling party in matters of developmental activities in their constituencies. This has intensified the popular resentment against the Congress in Nagaon district, particularly in Samaguri, Kalita said.
