Guwahati: Ruling Congress in Assam faces an uphill task to overcome the challenge posed by the BJP and All Indian United Democratic Front (AIUDF) in by-election to three Assembly constituencies to be held on September 13 next.
The by-poll has given an opportunity to ruling Congress which received a drubbing from the BJP in the last Lok Sabha election in Assam, to salvage some of its pride.
But the going is not being smooth so far in the event of stiff challenge posed by the BJP in two of the constituencies and AIUDF in the third constituency.
By-election is being held to three Assembly constituencies – Silchar, Lakhipur and Jamnamukh.
Out of these Silchar and Lakhipur are under Silchar Lok Sabha constituency in Bengali speaking Barak Valley of south Assam while Jamnamukh LAC is under Nagaon Lok Sabha constituency in central Assam.
By-election has been necessitated in Silchar LAC after the sitting Congress MLA, Sushmita Deb was elected to Lok Sabha while in Lakhipur the sitting Congress MLA, D P Goala had died.
By-election to Jamunamukh constituency is being held after the sitting MLA, Badaruddin Ajmal of All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) was elected to Lok Sabha.
The BJP is posing main challenge to Congress in both Silchar and Lakhipur LACs.
The BJP takes heart in the fact that it won largest number of vote in Silchar LAC under Silchar Parliamentary constituency in the last Lok Sabha polls.
Union minister for sports and youth affairs, Sarbananda Sonowal is heading the party’s campaign in both Silchar and Lakhipur. The by-election is crucial for BJP which aims to win 2016 Assembly polls in Assam.
On the other hand, Jamunamukh LAC is a known citadel of AIUDF where both Congress and the BJP stand little chances of winning.
It is home constituency of the AIUDF president Badaruddin Ajmal whose election to Lok Sabha has made the by-election necessary in the constituency.
Ajmal has fielded his son Abdur Rahim Ajmal from Jamunamukh and is campaigning vigorously to ensure his victory.
Meanwhile, Congress government in Assam has withdrawn a circular to ensure that only Bengali remains as the only official language in Barak Valley.
It has withdrawn the circular PLC 14/2011/39 dated 30th November 2013 regarding use of Assamese as official languages in Barak Valley along with Bengali. “The circular had created confusion in some circles was not actually meant for Barak Valley,” an official communiqué said.
This circular was issued to deputy commissioners of all the districts to submit report but the status of use of Assamese as official language in their respective district.
Another circular PLC14/2011/47, has been issued by the state government which said that the official language of Barak Valley (i.e. Bengali) will continue to be used for all official works.
“The circular has been issued at the directive of chief minister Tarun Gogoi,” a communiqué from CM’s office said.
Both opposition BJP and AIUDF accused the Congress government of issuing this circular to win over Bengali speaking voters in Barak Valley in the ensuing by-election.
The new circular has been issued in the wake of Tarun Gogoi’s election campaign in Barak Valley.