Congress President Predicts Landslide Victory for Opposition Alliance in Assam
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge declared on Tuesday that the Congress-led six-party alliance in Assam is poised to secure a decisive victory in the upcoming assembly elections, winning at least 72 out of 126 seats and forming the next government in the state. Speaking to the media in Guwahati just hours before campaigning concluded for the April 9 polls, Kharge expressed unwavering confidence in the opposition's prospects against the BJP-led NDA.
Confident Projections and Assurance to Voters
"Our alliance is going to form the next government in Assam by winning 72-73 seats," Kharge asserted. He directly addressed concerns raised by the BJP, stating, "No one needs to be afraid. This time, a Congress government is going to be formed in Assam. Women need not worry. Even if a Congress government comes, the financial benefits they are currently receiving will continue and may even increase."
He accused the BJP of spreading fearmongering propaganda, claiming the party is trying to scare people by suggesting these benefits would stop under Congress rule. "People should not be misled by such propaganda," he emphasized.
Internal Feedback and Leadership Decisions
Referring to feedback from survey teams, Kharge revealed that the Congress leadership believes the party will secure a majority, with the alliance potentially winning 70 to 72 seats. When questioned about whether Gaurav Gogoi would become chief minister if the alliance wins, Kharge clarified that Congress does not announce such decisions before elections. He stated that the high command would make a call after consulting elected MLAs.
Scathing Attack on Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma
Kharge launched a fierce attack on Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, alleging that there is no chief minister in the country "as corrupt and arrogant as him (Sarma)." He claimed that instead of focusing on public welfare, Sarma concentrated on his own growth, while syndicates remained active in various sectors. "The fight this time is 'people versus Himanta Biswa Sarma'," Kharge declared.
He drew a sharp comparison between the assets declared by former chief minister Tarun Gogoi over 15 years and those of the current chief minister in just five years, suggesting it would reveal the reality of the situation. Kharge questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat over why no investigation was launched into the alleged corruption, despite their stated zero-tolerance policy. He further alleged that the BJP was allowing Sarma to accumulate wealth to help fund the party.
Commitments on Justice and Response to Allegations
On the issue of justice for Zubeen Garg, Kharge accused the government of delaying the setup of a fast-track court by six months, "possibly to protect someone." He promised that if Congress forms the government, justice would be delivered within 100 days and those responsible would be punished.
Regarding allegations about multiple foreign passports linked to the chief minister's family, Kharge said the government should respond and that the matter would be decided in court. He also commented on allegations raised by Pawan Khera and the subsequent police action, stating that under a "double-engine government," FIRs were to be expected. Instead of filing cases, he urged the chief minister to clarify whether the allegations were true or false, adding that Congress was not afraid of such action and was ready to face it.
