Congress predicts higher turn out in second phase
Gogoi strikes positive pose
Source: The Sangai Express / Press Trust of India
Guwahati, April 06 2011:
Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today expressed confidence of winning the Assembly elections and said Congress would form Government for the third consecutive time.
"We'll form government on our own.
We'll win 45 to 46 of the 62 Assembly seats that went to the polls in the first phase polling on April 4," Gogoi told reporters here.
"With 73.04 percentage of polling recorded in the first phase on Monday, the large voter turnout will go in our favour as people want peace," he said.
To queries if the existing alliance with the Bodoland Peoples Front (BPF) will continue in government formation, he said, "BPF is there.
Our relations will continue" .
On the possibility of the BPF eating into the Congress seats, the chief minister said, "Their tally may be the same or may rise.
Can't comment on their prospects" .
On taking support from the minority dominated AIUDF for government formation in the face of his differences with that party's chief, Gogoi said, "Whoever supports us is upto them.
Shall I not take their support if I get?" .
The Chief Minister was also confident of even a higher poll percentage in the second phase on April 11 going by the first phase trend "as people of Assam believe in democracy" .
The Congress has been in power since the last two Assemblies with Tarun Gogoi at the helm of affairs.
The Opposition particularly the AGP is looking for a come back while the BJP is eyeing to make its mark in the North East.