Avoiding Tactics of Real Issues Results in BJP’s Low Performance: Upamanyu Hazarika

GUWAHATI: The Prabajan Virodhi Manch on Sunday said the BJP’s low performance in the recent Panchayat polls in the State was due to the ruling party’s avoiding tactics to solve the real issues that pose a threat to the identity of indigenous people.

The Manch convenor Upamanyu Hazarika told reporters here on Sunday that the indigenous people who voted the BJP to power in the State in 2016 hoping that the party would solve the burning issues such as illegal migration from Bangladesh, are now frustrated and disillusioned as the BJP leadership have started avoiding the real issues of Assam. He said the BJP is going to commit the same blunder that the AGP did once by breaking the promises that it gave to the indigenous people.

“In the 2013 Panchayat elections the then ruling party, Congress even after ruling the State for 12 years had won 50.49 per cent of the seats. But just after two and a half years in power the BJP has won 41.94 per cent of the seats and with the Congress close behind at 34 per cent,” Upamanyu Hazarika said.

According to Hazarika while the Panchayat elections are fought on local issues and candidates, the issues for general elections are different. He said Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and his ministerial colleagues had mounted a campaign akin to a general election touring the State in helicopters, organising large rallies, huge expenditure etc.

“Even in Bengali dominated Hojal district, the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 has not garnered any electoral dividend with less than 40 per cent of the seats being won by the BJP. The party which won the 2014 Lok Sabha polls and 2016 assembly elections on the clear promise of protecting indigenous identity find their own electoral identity slipping drastically,” Upamanyu Hazarika said.

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