Third force in Assam

The battle royal in the Assam parliamentary elections will be between the Congress and the AGP in alliance with the BJP. But a fledgeling third force has emerged based on rank opportunism. There is no unifying bond between these parties and they will merely split the vote. Some of these parties are fighting each other in other parts of the country. The Communists in Assam seem to have no reservations about joining hands with parties representing narrow sectarian interests. Of course, the priority considerations in the state should be ensuring peace and stability. Murder and mayhem continue with impunity. Life in the state is insecure for the ordinary people. The assassination of the editor of a local daily proves that. But political parties in the state are more interested in jockeying for position.

The third force also shows no interest in wiping out ethnic separateness. The Communists are in league with the Bodoland People's Progressive Front (BPPF). Bodo loyalty is divided among several parties. There is no denying that emphasis should be placed on securing unity among the several ethnic groups in Assam and such unity should be above being a mere election issue. The great distrust among these ethnic groups has threatened the political and economic interest of the state. The third force should recognise that it is not right to try and secure seats in the Lok Sabha at the cost of ethnic unity. The need for such unity should cut across political differences. It is only if the multi-ethnic social fabric of Assam is preserved that true democracy can arrive in the state. THE SHILLONG TIMES