NEW DELHI, March 28 � Questioning Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi�s claim of development and writing off Ismail Hussain�s chance of victory, former President Late Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed�s son and the Trinamool Congress candidate for the Barpeta seat, Dr Pervez Ahmed, said that the contest would be between him and the AIUDF candidate Sirajuddin Ajmal.
Dr Ahmed, who is making his maiden entry into the electoral field, joined the Trinamool Congress after failed negotiations with the Congress and the AIUDF, and admitted that he has had discussions with Badruddin Ajmal, but nothing was finalised.
Justifying his decision to join the Trinamool Congress, he said West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee�s party politics was different from that of AIUDF.
He alleged that Chief Minister Gogoi has nothing to show as his claim that he has brought into the State investments worth Rs 1,900 crore. Barring the national highways, most of the roads are in bad shape, he said, blaming Ismail for neglecting the constituency.
A medical professional and entrepreneur, Dr Ahmed, who returned to India in 2009 after spending 30 years in the US, said he could bring in his expertise to develop the constituency.
He listed out underdevelopment, unemployment and poverty as some of the major problems of Barpeta constituency. He said that he has been closely associated with some of the health projects in Assam.
Asked how he proposed to fight in the election given that the Trinamool Congress has limited presence in the constituency, he said that he was overwhelmed by the support he has received and workers from other parties have volunteered to help him.
Dr Pervez believes that the main contest would be between him and AIUDF, with Congress and BJP relegated to the third and fourth positions respectively.
