Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi has opened the Pandora’s box of controversy by confessing that in selection of candidate everything was not done, the way he and his party proposed.
“In selection of 126 candidates, 10-12 cases may be wrong but it is very natural in a big political parties like Congress,” said Mr Gogoi confirming that he also expressed his feeling on list of candidates to the central leaders. “What I spoke to my leaders on party forum can not be made public. It is our internal family matter which we can not discuss outside the party forum,” Mr Gogoi told reporters.
In fact chief minister conveyed everything to the media what he wanted to comminicate through his oblique remarks but it took a further twist when some of the high profile minister started claiming to have secured nomination for at least 40 candidates out of 126.
These controversies has reached to a level that ruling Congress party was seriously exploring option to review the list of candidate at least for the second phase of polling. Among those senior Congress leaders charged to have influenced the list of candidates included Prime Minister who is said to have ensured nomination for Debabrata Saikia, the eldest son of late chief minister Hiteswar Saikia.
Keeping his long-time friendship with late Hiteswar Saikia, Prime Minister insisted at the Central Election Committee meeting that Debabrata should be given a ticket. It was not the only, PM had also insisted for candidature of Rashidul Haque’s daughter who was given ticket by depriving the candidature of PCC women wing president Sarifa Begum from Jamunamukh constituency. Ms Begum, like other Muslim leaders, is exploring possibility of a ticket in AIUDF.