SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
SILCHAR: After the claim by AIUDF supremo Badaruddin Ajmal of exit of BJP alliance and formation of their government at Dispur, Sachin Pilot, Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan and president of the Pradesh Congress Committee, who drew huge crowds at his road shows at Silchar and Karimganj, looked confident about the change of guards at Dispur. Interestingly, the mammoth gathering at the public rallies of political parties addressed by their heavyweight leaders make the predictions simply confusing. Amit Shah, Union Home Minister, made the statement about BJP-Alliance winning 37 of the 42 seats in the first phase of polling, giving fillip to the repeated claims of comfortable win by the saffron top leaders of regaining power in Assam.
What however buoyed up Sachin Pilot was the turn up of young men in large number at both the rallies. His address was therefore toned up to share the anguish and disappointment of youths at the rising graph of unemployment and asked what did the BJP led government do in its 5 year rule to address it and create job opportunities for them? The spiralling prices of essential commodities came handy for him to hit at the opponent. What was the price of gas cylinder during the time of Manmohan Singh and how much it costs now?
Pilot raised a number of burning issues to put BJP on the back –foot and gain mileage. He said people have faith in Congress as it ruled the state for 15 years. Fact-sheet will speak to justify the return of Congress. It were the people who gave BJP a chance to govern the State, but its failure to live up to the expectations of people has made the electorates to unseat it and bring back Congress. On the most crucial issues of CAA and NRC, Sachin Pilot was aware of the contradictions in his own party and threw cold water on them, calling them a ploy by BJP to divert the attention of people. Barak Congress supports both CAA and NRC, a stand different from Brahmaputra valley.
Another uncomfortable area for the young Congress leader was the alliance with AIUDF, once despised by Tarun Gogoi, the late Chief Minister, distancing himself from Badaruddin to ask, "Who is he?" Now, the alliance with Ajmal is just to hang on power. He dismissed it as a part of strategy only. At Silchar, Sachin Pilot accompanied by Sushmita Dev, ex MP, was campaigning for Tamal Banik who is facing challenge from Deepayan Chakraborty of BJP and the Independent Dilip Paul.
Karimganj road show by Sachin was yet another big show to demonstrate what wave of people's support means. It was like witnessing the victory procession before result is out. As already pointed out, the candidate for this border town Karimganj (North), Kamakhya Dey Purkayastha, the sitting MLA, has emerged as a formidable challenge to BJP alliance. Sachin Pilot appealed to the surging crowd to vote for Kamalakha who has always raised the voice of people in and outside the assembly and won their hearts. If elected, he would be taken in the Cabinet. It was no doubt a great moment and great feeling for Sachin Pilot.
Also watch: Basanta Utsav Celebrated in Barpeta