Fearing a setback from decision of All-India United Democratic Front’s decision to contest 86 seats, the Congress leadership has started damage control exercise by fine-tuning its straining relationship with Bodoland Peoples’ Front besides appeasing the Hindu Bengalis in Assam.
Contrary to the earlier stand of the Congress party to contest all the seats of Bodoland Territorial Council, chief minister Tarun Gogoi here on Wednesday adopted a reconciliatory approach by holding a closed-door meeting with BTC chief Hagrama Mahiliary. What transpired between the two leaders was not known but Congress insiders admitted that the meeting was held to finalise the strategy of the party before declaring the Congress list of candidates. It is believed that the BPF and Congress leaderships have agreed to play supporting roles in many Assembly segments inside as well as outside the BTC. The move has been seen to capitalise and polarise the voters of the Bodo community outside the BTC area.
In fact, the ruling Congress is facing the wrath of over 20 lakh tribal voters as an apex tribal body, the All-Assam Tribal Sangha has appealed to the tribal voters to unite and uproot the Congress government “for robbing the tribals of their rights in the state”.
Accusing the state government of neglecting the tribals’ demand for reservation in government jobs, the Sangha has threatened to oppose all Congress candidates in the coming elections.
“Though the chief minister has pledged job reservation for us in the government sector in November 2010, he has betrayed us by appointing 15,643 contractual teachers in January without any reservation for ST category candidates,” said Sangha general secretary Aditya Khaglari. It may be mentioned that the tribal organisation has filed a writ petition in the Gauhati high court. Following this, the court stayed the appointment of all contractual teachers in the state.
Realising the consequences of losing Muslim votes and a possible split in tribal votes, chief minister Tarun Gogoi is said to have been working on social engineering to counter the damages.