NAGAON, Feb 6 � Even as the civic polls are nearing, the basic amenities in the urban areas here lie in a poor state. Almost all roads are in a bad shape and pedestrians face difficulties while walking on the roads. There is no proper drainage system and no proper parking place in the municipal area. There is no control on the fares of cycle rickshaws or autorickshaws and the municipal authority has no correct records about the number of rickshaws here. The children�s parks here have not been properly maintained.
All the political parties are gearing up for the polls. There are 26 wards under the Nagaon municipal area. The Congress, BJP, AGP, AIUDF and CPM have fielded their candidates for the civic polls. The Congress and the BJP will contest in all the wards. The AGP has fielded 19 candidates, while the AIUDF has put up six and the CPM has put up one candidate. The Independent candidates, who are mostly dissidents of the INC and the BJP, may affect the result of the polls.
It is an acid test for Nagaon Congress MLA Dr Durlav Chamua. If he is able to install a Congress-led Board in Nagaon, he may expect a berth in the Assam Ministry. It is also a prestige issue for minister Rakibul Hussain. Both of them have campaigned for their party candidates.
On the other hand, Nagaon BJP MP Rajen Gohain and Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal have also campaigned for their party candidates.
The AIUDF is mainly banking on religious minority votes. There are allegations against the BJP and the Congress leaders that they have selectively favoured some of their candidates.
Altogether 85,181 voters will decide the fate of 103 candidates for the February 9 polls here. There has been no proper communication from the Nagaon district administration about the preparations for the polls as well as the counting process till the filing of this report.
Candidates are also in the fray for the elections to the local bodies at Dhing, Raha, Kampur, Hojai, Lanka, Lumding and Doboka.
