How Gogoi pulled it off

The CM, making good use of central schemes, managed to touch hearts in Assam

Two months ago when Assam entered into the election process, the feeling in the state was that Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi would not be able to make it. This was also the feeling among a sizeable section of Congressmen, especially from veterans like Ardhendu Kumar Dey, Sarat Barkataki and Devananda Konwar, all of whom had lost their ministerial berths, following downsizing two years ago. A prominent leader like Guwahati Lok Sabha member Kirip Chaliha, who has a history of love-hate relationship with the chief minister, had only last week said Gogoi would have to take the responsibility in the event of the Congress failing to retain power. But, though he may not have been able to achieve what he had done in the 2001 elections, Gogoi has managed to remain in power, even if it has to be with the help of an ally, the Hagrama Mohilari faction of the Bodo People’s Progressive Front (BPPF), a party with which the Congress had forged an alliance.

While the Congress had won 71 seats in the 2001 polls, Gogoi, banking on the split that the main opposition party, the AGP, had suffered last year following the expulsion of founder president and two-time chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, was confident that his tally would be even better. And, though that did not turn out to be a reality, Gogoi did manage to prove all political pundits wrong, including numerous exit polls.

How did this happen? Yes, one was that the AGP had split, with its president Brindaban Goswami failing to create a strong anti-Congress wave despite the several opportunities Gogoi had offered him in the past five years. The Congress did have serious problems, including a serious scandal in recruiting constables for the state police force. The emergence of the Assam United Democratic Front (AUDF), following the Supreme Court’s scrapping of the controversial Illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunals) Act in July last year, was also seen by many as a new problem before the Congress. But Gogoi simply refused to take it as a scare; instead he said he did not give a damn about the AUDF. “I can cause a split in the AUDF,” Gogoi had said during the run-up to the polls in March. And although he did not do that, the AUDF could not cause any major upset for the party except in a few pockets.

Story continues below this ad

The positive points that Gogoi had on his card included timely salary payment to the 4.5 lakh state government employees, a segment which touches almost every family in the state. Delay in the payment of salaries was one of the several factors that had contributed to Mahanta’s doom in 2001. The state’s financial situation had also seen a turn-around in the past five years with tax collection improving like never before. The last major decision Gogoi took was the provincialisation of jobs of college teachers, numbering not less than 10,000, a segment that does influence public opinion in a significant manner. The services of over 35,000 persons, working as muster roll workers since the AGP days, were made permanent. This enabled the Congress to reach out to more families that matter.

Gogoi was also lucky to have the advantage of central schemes for the significant improvement in the road infrastructure of the state, while he also managed to touch the hearts of the BPL population by introducing a life insurance policy for them. There was also something useful for the vocal student community in the state — the Congress government gave computers to every student who had scored more than 60 per cent marks in the high school board examination. This imaginative reaching out to various sections of society seemed to have played a big role in ensuring that Gogoi did not bite the dust.

sgkashyap@gmail.com

Canada, UK and Australia formally recognise a Palestinian state

World2 hr ago

The UK, Canada, and Australia have recognized Palestine as a state, going against the US and Israel's opposition. British PM Starmer aims to revive peace without Hamas and hostage release. Canada and Australia also recognize Palestine, condemning terrorism. Over 145 UN members recognize Palestine, with France likely to join soon.

View all shorts

Live Blog