Silchar ElectionSILCHAR, April 21: Not the usual Muslim vote-bank, this time in Silchar, 1,85,244 tea garden labour votes would play the decisive role. Indicating this, a reliable source in the Congress party said that like previous years, Sontosh Mohan Dev would not be able to maintain a decisive local in Lakhipur and Udharbond Legislative Assembly segments.
In 2004, Dev who won the battle by a narrow margin of 20,000 votes trailed in Silchar and Dholai LA segments. Dev got 35,112 votes in Silchar against 49,032 got by BJP’s Kabindra Purkayastha who got 36,811 votes. But, Dev covered the gap mainly in Lakhipur where he got 41,282 votes and Purkayastha polled with 26,042. In Udharbond too, Dev maintained a local of almost 2,000 votes which ultimately sealed the fate of the BJP candidate.
But this time, the picture is different. AUDF boss Badarulddin Ajmal has snatched away the lions share of Muslim votes, even the Congress also admitted of this. Ajmal’s strategy to field a tea tribe candidate in Karimganj would also play as dividend in Silchar. Lakshmi Orang, the Beltola tragedy girl failed to impress her fellow labourers in Silchar but in some gardens, AUDF would definitely make an entry for the first time.
State Urban Development Minister Dinesh Prasad Goala, who respects Lakhipur is the Asom Assembly confidently claimed that this time too Dev would get decisive majority in this LA segment where the garden votes constitute 33.98 per cent. Goala who is also the general secretary of powerful Cachar Cha Sramik Union, however admitted that the BJP would this time got some votes in certain pockets. Even, Goala who sought nomination for party ticket, had reportedly did not shed much sweat this time. Relation between Dev and Goala started to sour since 2004 and it was worst in 2006 when Dev allegedly put pressure on party high command not to include Goala in Gogois cabine. For the last couple of years, cold war between these two powerful leaders has divided the entire party. But Dev did not seem to realize it. Even in Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi’s last election rally in Silchar in the last part of March, Dev embarrassed party workers by demanding clarification from Goala about his achievements. Some die-hard Dev fans had reportedly suggested him to make a truce with Goala, who had a considerable influence over the garden votes but Dev did not accept the suggestion. However, on the day of the Sonia Gandhi rally, Gogoi and PCC president Bhubaneswar Kalita had reportedly asked Goala to ensure maximum votes in Lakhipur. Goala in his close circuit had admitted that he was expecting a call from Dev. Talking to The Sentinel, Goala however claimed that in spite of Ajmal factor, Dev would surely win the seat. But in the backdrop of apparent arithmetic, Goala’s claim lacked much substantial. Dev used to win the Silchar seat mainly viding on Muslim and garden votes. So, the question remains what the garden votes would do? THE SENTINEL
In 2004, Dev who won the battle by a narrow margin of 20,000 votes trailed in Silchar and Dholai LA segments. Dev got 35,112 votes in Silchar against 49,032 got by BJP’s Kabindra Purkayastha who got 36,811 votes. But, Dev covered the gap mainly in Lakhipur where he got 41,282 votes and Purkayastha polled with 26,042. In Udharbond too, Dev maintained a local of almost 2,000 votes which ultimately sealed the fate of the BJP candidate.
But this time, the picture is different. AUDF boss Badarulddin Ajmal has snatched away the lions share of Muslim votes, even the Congress also admitted of this. Ajmal’s strategy to field a tea tribe candidate in Karimganj would also play as dividend in Silchar. Lakshmi Orang, the Beltola tragedy girl failed to impress her fellow labourers in Silchar but in some gardens, AUDF would definitely make an entry for the first time.
State Urban Development Minister Dinesh Prasad Goala, who respects Lakhipur is the Asom Assembly confidently claimed that this time too Dev would get decisive majority in this LA segment where the garden votes constitute 33.98 per cent. Goala who is also the general secretary of powerful Cachar Cha Sramik Union, however admitted that the BJP would this time got some votes in certain pockets. Even, Goala who sought nomination for party ticket, had reportedly did not shed much sweat this time. Relation between Dev and Goala started to sour since 2004 and it was worst in 2006 when Dev allegedly put pressure on party high command not to include Goala in Gogois cabine. For the last couple of years, cold war between these two powerful leaders has divided the entire party. But Dev did not seem to realize it. Even in Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi’s last election rally in Silchar in the last part of March, Dev embarrassed party workers by demanding clarification from Goala about his achievements. Some die-hard Dev fans had reportedly suggested him to make a truce with Goala, who had a considerable influence over the garden votes but Dev did not accept the suggestion. However, on the day of the Sonia Gandhi rally, Gogoi and PCC president Bhubaneswar Kalita had reportedly asked Goala to ensure maximum votes in Lakhipur. Goala in his close circuit had admitted that he was expecting a call from Dev. Talking to The Sentinel, Goala however claimed that in spite of Ajmal factor, Dev would surely win the seat. But in the backdrop of apparent arithmetic, Goala’s claim lacked much substantial. Dev used to win the Silchar seat mainly viding on Muslim and garden votes. So, the question remains what the garden votes would do? THE SENTINEL
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