Can AGP save its lone bastion of Barak Valley?

Panchayat polls

Special Correspondent

Silchar: The battle scene in Algapur-Mohanpur ZPC with 7 goan panchayats in the district of Hailakandi is totally different from all other areas of Barak Valley since the contest here is triangular involving Congress, AIUDF and AGP, pushing the BJP to the background. AGP state leaders have been active to retain this stronghold of their party, groomed up and nourished by the strong man late Sahidul Alam Choudhury, a minister in the cabinet of Prafulla Kumar Mahanta. In fact, Sahidul Alam with his strong support base and the qualities of a politician had left no stone unturned to expand the influence of AGP beyond Algapur from where he was elected in 1985 and since then he had been unbeaten until his death in 2012.

His sudden demise came as a great shock to the AGP leaders as they could hardly find his replacement. Mehnaj Said Choudhury, the daughter of Sahidul Alam, emerged on the political scenario and tried to fill up the void created by the death of her father. Though she dabbled herself in active politics and became a face with the people of Algapur, she failed to make any mark in the poll battle either at panchayat or assembly level. For this panchayat election, Aftab Uddin Laskar is the candidate of AGP who was the former member of ZPC. He is no doubt a frontline leader of the district and has wider influence for his being the chairman of marketing board.

He is facing stiff challenge from Jainal Abedin Laskar of Congress and Nurul Islam Laskar of AIUDF. BJP has put up Babita Kar, a totally obscure face in politics, to contest the panchayat polls. It might be called a symbolic fight and her win or defeat will depend how the 7000 plus Hindu voters react. The consolidation of the Hindu block and the fragmentation of Muslim votes of around 8000 in the biggest panchayat segment with largest ZPC in the district of Hailakandi will definitely be advantage Babita. But, such a possibility is a mere conjecture and guess work.

Against the debut of Babita, the candidates of Congress, AIUDF and AGP are battle torn leaders in political arena. The ground from all accounts is now prepared for the triangular contest and the fate of AGP candidate hinges on how far he can win back Muslim votes as well as those of the Hindus. What queers the pitch for AGP in the panchayat poll of this valley is the stand of their frontline leaders on the issue of NRC which has become a cause of worry both for Muslims and Hindus.

It is true AGP is opposing the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill and at the same time harping on the deportation of all the left outs of NRC, a hard line adopted by AASU. NRC is the burning issue in this panchayat poll and the political parties and their leaders have been playing safe cards. Other issues which have come up in this panchayat poll are corruptions, good governance and the prospect of a people oriented panchayat system. Congress has always been at the centre of accusation for indulging in corrupt practices from the panchayat level to the district level.

AIUDF supreme Badruddin Ajmal has thrown challenge to the opposition to come forward with any case of corruption against the candidates of his party elected last time and even before. One factor that goes in favour of BJP candidate is the corruption free administration from the grass root level and it is this plank of transparency and accountability which may prompt the voters to rethink if Babita Kar can be favoured. Ultimately, it is the voters who will decide the fate of the candidates.

In the final analysis, for AGP candidate Aftab Uddin Laskar the going is tough and that will be an answer to the question raised. The very presence of AGP in this valley is at stake. AGP leaders refuse to count the chickens before they are hatched. It is with this hope that Atul Bora, AGP president, and Keshab Mahanta, AGP working president, along with a 12 member team are on hectic election campaign in Barak Valley.

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