After being appreciated by all the Congress leaders including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi, Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi here on Tuesday said he was the best Chief Minister in the state’s history for being able to put majority of the militant outfits in cease-fire mode.
Asserting that polling of more than 70 per cent has also proved that people of this state are against separatist ideology, Mr Gogoi told reporters, “With my experience in politics since 1972, I can tell you with confidence that we are going to get the required number of seats to form the government comfortably.”
He claimed, “My prediction has never gone wrong. If there have been a situation to lose the election, I would have announced that even before the counting of votes.”
Justifying his claim of being the best chief minister of the state, he said, “Had anyone one thought that Bodo rebels would be in my cabinet? Had anyone imagined that Ulfa chairman Arbinda Rajkhowa would be sharing dais with me and presenting traditional souvenirs.”
In the same vein Mr Gogoi went on saying, “Who knows if elusive Ulfa chief Paresh Baruah opposing peace talks changes his heart and join my peace-initiative.” Confident looking chief minister said, “Let me tell you — Paresh Baruah would not be able to keep fleeing away from me for a long. I am confident to persuade him also.”
He rejected claims of the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) that they would form the next government. Mr Gogoi also extended his support to the demand of social activist Anna Hazare saying, “In my third term, my priority would be to check the corruption. I can not claim that I will bring it to zero level but my effort will be to curb this menace.”
He also said, “The growing protest of civil society against corruption is good sign. This will help us in containing the corruption and taking action against those encouraging corruption.”