From Our Correspondent
Guwahati: The parties which are primarily in focus for the second phase election in Assam on April 11 are ruling Congress, the AGP, All Indian United Democratic Front (AIUDF) and Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) .
The first three parties will be close rivals in most of the constituencies going for polls in the second phase barring the 11 seats in Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) areas where the BPF is facing the main challenge from its rival Bodo People’s Progressive Front (BPPF). The second phase election cover total 64 constituencies spread over 14 districts including those in BTC areas.
The BJP which is focused on expanding its base in Assam, has gone all out to increase its vote share in the second phase with the party engaging all its top campaigners including L K Advani, Narendra Modi, Varun Gandhi, Arun Jaitley, Smriti Irani, Rajnath Singh for whirlwind tour of various constituencies.
Former Assam chief minister and the AGP leader Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, AGP president Chandra Mohan Patowary, Congress candidates — health minister Himanta Bishwa Sharma, senior minister Dr Bhumidhar Barman, forest minister Rockybul Hussain, AIUDF chief Badaruddin Ajmal’s 29-year old son Abdur Rahman, brother Sirajuddin Ajmal are some of the prominent candidates in the second phase.