Assam Assembly Elections 2021: Curtains drawn on poll campaigns across Barak Valley

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

SILCHAR: Altogether 15 constituencies of the Barak Valley will go to the polls on April 1. Meanwhile, the hectic poll campaigning, demagoguery, sloganeering, blaring of microphones and war of words have fell silent at 6 pm on Tuesday (March 30).

Candidates, leaders, workers and activists of various political parties have retreated into their camps and homes — overworked and exhausted. The think tanks of the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party), the Congress and the AIUDF (All India United Democratic Front), and other parties in the reckoning, are introspecting over their respective prospects after several days of hard work.

During his last leg of campaign, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal came to Silchar in support of BJP candidate Deepayan Chakraborty, facing a triangular fight with Tamal Banik of the Congress and Dilip Paul, the rebel Independent.

During the rally, the Chief Minister told the masses that the development of Barak Valley witnessed emphatic growth after the BJP came to power, as against the Congress rule which paid no importance to the development of the valley. He also said that the BJP-led government, immediately after coming to power, laid importance on the infrastructural development of all the three districts of the valley.

Giving a snapshot of the party's agenda for the development of Barak, Sonowal said that three more bridges will be built over the Barak to improve the connectivity of all areas across the river. He also said that considering the potential of agriculture in the Barak Valley, the BJP-led government would set up an Agriculture University along with creating vocations for 10 lakh youths of the Barak Valley region.

Earlier, Sonowal addressed poll rallies at Ratabari and North Karimganj. He also addressed election campaigns in Silchar, Udarbond and Sonai and canvassed for votes in favour of the candidates belonging to BJP and alliance partners.

On Monday night, Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, held a road show and flagged off a bike rally of youth brigade.

Interestingly, all the top leaders of the BJP, the Congress and the AIUDF sounded optimistic about gaining thumping majority during their respective campaigns.

Looking at the teeming crowds and gauging their mood, all the star campaigners for the BJP — Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath, and Member of Parliament Manoj Tiwari — were quite excited and exulted about the re-run of the Sabananda Sonowal government.

Congress star campaigners — Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan Sachin Pilot, and Rashtriya Janata Dal president Tejhaswi Yadav, besides AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal — who too pulled mammoth crowds were equally over confident of the 'Mahajoot' government at Dispur. The poll result this time is being assessed on the counting of heads at the rallies.

It was quite amazing that the Opposition raked up issues that pinched the people. It was like firing salvos after salvos at the ruling party which tried to blunt their criticism with impressive developments on the ground. True, after decades, people of the Barak Valley have been witness to it, demonstrating in reality the promise of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Viswas.'

It was a campaign, hot and competitive, but without any acrimony and malice. It was the most pleasant scene at all the constituencies. And this valley has a history of peace and amity. Elections are fought on a friendly note with all decency and decorum.

However, pulling crowds has many dimensions. During the Parliamentary election of 2019, Priyanka Gandhi pulled more crowds in her road shows here than Himanta Biswa Sarma. But, Dr Rajdeep Roy won, defeating Sushmita Dev of the Congress.

On the day of polling, voters go to polling booths and freely exercise their franchise. It is these voters who decide the victors or the losers!

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