BJP singles out Congress as contender

'... keeping the top-rung party leaders in Assam like MP Bijoya Chakraborty, MP Ramen Deka, MP Rajen Gohain and others aside, BJP high command is seriously banking on second-rung leaders who can make it to Dispur in 2016'

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, June 2: 'The party is above all else' being its mantra, the leaders of the Assam BJP will prick their ears up to hear something new on the organization front from party president Amit Shah, who is going to address the core-committee of the party in Guwahati on July 14.

According to party sources, the high command firmly believes that the party is always above persons of any stature, and as such Shah is going to make some announcements on party organizations in Assam, set to face Assembly elections in 2016. The sources said that the party has its eyes set on Dispur in 2016. Shah, according to party sources, is likely to bestow poll-related responsibilities to some party leaders in the State. The July 14 meeting bears significance as the party core committee will brainstorm to make poll strategy for 2016. The issue of change in leadership in Assam is very much among the agenda, but nothing concrete has got shape as yet.

According to party sources, keeping the top-rung party leaders in Assam like MP Bijoya Chakraborty, MP Ramen Deka, MP Rajen Gohain and others aside, the high command is seriously banking on second-rung leaders in the State who can make it to Dispur in 2016. The meeting is also set to review the outcome of the party's 'mahasamparka abhiyan' in the state.

Apart from Shah, BJP's tiol general secretary (organization) Ramlal, tiol observer for Assam Dr. Mahendra Singh, all office-bearers of the State BJP committee, all presidents and general secretaries of the district committees of the party in the State, all party MPs and MLAs of the State, party's central committee members from Assam and others will attend the meeting.

Giving party tickets for the Assembly elections in 2016 is another issue the June 14 meeting of the party is going to brainstorm. The party high command, according to state party sources, is laying stress on a balancing act keeping in mind all castes, ethnic groups etc., into consideration. Winning prospects of the candidates is one of the  major criteria the party has to accord top priority.

By October, according to party sources, the high command will give enough hints to probable candidates so that they can work in their respective target constituencies. "The enemy of the BJP in Assam is the Congress. In constituencies where the party can't erode Congress block votes, they will try to erode the share of votes of the regiol parties like the AGP so as to defeat the Congress," the sources said.