BJP national president Nitin Gadkari and film actress and MP Hema Malini on Thursday hit the campaign trail in Barak Valley in eastern Assam to woo voters. While Mr Gadkari confined himself to the Valley, Hema Malini went about addressing rallies in upper Assam. Mr Gadkari pulled huge crowds during his rallies at Katigora, Patharkandi and Ratabari. The BJP is looking to capitalise its strong hold to enhance its tally in the Barrak valley. The dreamgirl of yesteryears also proved herself a crowd puller in Upper Assam district as turn out in her three rallies at Tinsukia, Moranhat and Mariani was stated to be phenomenal. The BJP has already lined up at least 40 star campaigners, who will be canvassing for the party in Assam. These include leaders like L.K. Advani, Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley and Narendra Modi. Popular crowd pullers Navjot Singh Sidhu, Smriti Irani and Shatrughan Sinha, are also in the list.
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Congress MP driven out of meet
age correspondent
Guwahati
March 23: In a major setback to the ruling Congress party in the run up to the Assembly elections, the powerful All Assam Tea Tribes Students’ Association (AATSA) has banned the entry of the Congress leaders in Upper Assam’s Sibsagar district.
The angry tea tribe students had created serious embarrassment for Congress MP Pawan Singh Ghatowar on Wednesday by forcing him to leave the venue of a meeting in the middle at Sonari in Upper Assam’s Sibsagar district.
Registering a strong protest, hundreds of ATTSA supporters shouted slogan—“Ghatowar Go Back”. The police was forced to lathicharge to pacify the angry crowd.
At least six AATSA members were injured. The meeting was organised for Congress candidate Sarat Barkotoki. Mr Ghatowar who is also the president of the Assam Chah Mazdoor Sangha (ACMS) however refused to make any comment. About 800 Congress workers were present at the meeting. The AATSA has called Sonari bandh on March 25 in protest against the police lathicharge. Sonari, along with 61 other constituencies will go to the poll on April 4.