Karimganj LS seat: Advantage BJP
SILCHAR, August 19: Rising above internal bickerings and squabblings, Karimganj BJP District Committee is all gearing up for the Lok Sabha elections of 2014. According to a party source, various factors stand in favour of BJP which are being deeply examined and analyzed by the frontline leaders of the border district. The emergence and rise of AIUDF which now rules the Zilla Parishad has thrown a bigger challenge before Congress which has in its kitty all the 5 Assembly seats and the lone Karimganj LS seat. But, the stronghold of Congress, from all reckoning, looks not impregnable.
The possibility of the split in the traditional vote–bank of minorities on which Congress has been winning the elections will be on acid test in the LS polls. For various reasons, minorities in the district are disillusioned notwithstanding all the benefits for their welfare as well as the sops in the offing. During the last BTAD violence, they have been at the receiving end. AIUDF supremo, Badaruddin Ajmal, became their messiah and a sheet–anchor for their relief in distress. The turn around among the minorities to shift their support from Congress to AIUDF is now a reality.
This imminent erosion in the traditional vote–bank of Congress will be in the advantage of BJP. Besides, Hindus who have inclined towards Congress during the last Parliamentary and Assembly polls are again moving towards the saffron party. It is on the consolidated Hindu vote–bank that BJP could win 9 of the 15 Assembly seats and both the LS seats of Silchar and Karimganj in 1991. Grievances of Bengali Hindus against Congress are now many.
The Congress MP of Karimganj, Lalit Mohan Shuklabaidya, after winning the elections in 2004 and 2009, has seldom been seen standing by the side of Hindus when in trouble. There have been series of murders, kidnappings, extortions and dacoities as reported in the media from time to time. While Shipra Goon, all India Vice–President of BJP Mahila Morcha, and other leaders of the district have been on their side, Lalit Mohan Shuklabaidya has not cared to visit them. Nor could they get the benefits due to them under his MP Area Development Fund. He took the people by surprise when he said he ‘utilizes his fund at the direction of Gautom Roy, State Minister.’
The statement of Gautom Roy at a recent public meeting, hinting that Shuklabaidya would again be the Congress candidate and his win by a margin of 1 lakh votes has not gone well with the voters, both Hindus and Muslims. It is being seen as thrusting upon them a candidate most unwanted and to ensure his victory by means, fair and foul. Apart from that, Hindus have also been aggrieved at the equation of Digvijay Singh, former in–charge of Assam, between infiltrators and refugees. Gauging the hurt feelings of Hindu Bengalis, Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi, on the eve of last Assembly elections, differing from Digvijay Singh, assured of proper legislation to give Bengali Hindus migrating from Bangladesh, erstwhile East Pakistan, the status of refugees. It has only remained a promise.
Hindu Bengalis continue to be branded ‘D’ voters and sent to detention camps and even pushed back to the other side of the border. And, the ‘witch–hunting’ continues, all for the sake of vote–bank. Hindus are no more going to take it down and from all indications, polarization of votes in the LS polls is now a near possibility. It is for the BJP leaders to ensure that the message of the party goes down clear and loud that it is serious about proper legislation to protect them. For that, it is necessary that the base and the organizational strength of the party has to be strengthened from the booth level. This will alone make it regain the lost ground. What seems to have added gusto to the windmill of BJP is to make Narendra Modi, Chief Minister of Gujrat, as the election campaign chief and his clarion call to all the workers to unite and fight to throw Congress lock, stock and barrel out of power. The dynamism and vibrancy of Modi has no doubt inspired the leaders and workers to see their party win with the set target of 272 seats in Lok Sabha and hold the reign of power in the capital of the country. It will be a reality if the leaders and workers learning from the mistakes of the past rally round with the sole ‘mantra’ of taking the party to the masses. According to information, 4 candidates, Amaresh Roy, Krishna Das, Dibyendu Das and Nikhil Das have shown their willingness to contest on Karimganj seat (SC). Their names have been sent to the state committee by the district committee for consideration. Early decision on the selection of candidate will be an added advantage.
Source: The Sentinel 20.08.2013
