Delhi blow upsets BJP's Assam plans

‘We feel there is a lot to learn from the AAP. We will now have to rethink our strategy for the 2016 Assembly elections’ —Assam BJP chief  Siddhartha Bhattacharjee

By Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, February 10: Its poll debacle in Delhi has prompted the BJP in Assam, which had been upbeat since the Lok Sabha election results, to revisit its strategy for the 2016 Assembly elections.

The humiliating defeat of the BJP and Congress in Delhi has complicated the political scerio of the country, including that in Assam.

While the Congress has already been having sleepless nights, and now the magnitude of the BJP’s defeat would take time to sink in for the party’s leadership.

“We feel there is a lot to learn from the AAP. We will now have to rethink our strategy for the 2016 Assembly elections. We will have to go to the doorsteps of the people,” admitted BJP’s State unit president Siddhartha Bhattacharjee.

Union Agriculture minister Radha Mohan Singh however insisted that in Delhi, all the parties united against the BJP. “But this won’t last too long. Assam is not the tiol capital. There will be no impact in the 2016 Assembly elections,” Singh, who is in the city, said.

According to AGP president Atul Bora, the BJP could not live up to its promises made before the Lok Sabha elections. “Delhi represents a cross-section of the Indian electorate. As such, the mandate in Delhi is that of the country,” he felt.

The AGP president said this is the time for the regiol party to rejuvete itself and “provide a secular altertive to the people of Assam to fight against the neglect by tiol parties.”

The views were also shared by AIUDF president Badruddin Ajmal who said the BJP failed in its commitments made to voters. “The conversion agenda and other factors also contributed to the BJP’s defeat. The BJP wave will now fade away gradually,” Ajmal claimed.

On the other hand, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi sought to take solace in the BJP’s disastrous performance rather than mourn the Congress’ dismal show.

“I agree we did badly. But how good was the BJP? You can see for yourself, from what heights they (BJP) have fallen,” Gogoi said in response to media queries. “In eight months (of power at the Centre), the BJP has been dealt such a drubbing. The BJP used its entire force in Delhi…the Prime Minister himself, Amit Shah and all the MPs campaigned for the party. The result shows that acche din has not yet come,” Gogoi ridiculed.

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