Raha, Sept 28: The campaign for the Nagaon Lok Sabha bypoll gathered pace on Monday as Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma joined the trail for the first time, addressing public meetings in Raha, Samaguri and Moirabari in support of BJP-led NDA candidate Devasish Sharma.
The bypoll, scheduled for October 6 with counting on October 9, was necessitated after former Congress MP Pradyut Bordoloi resigned from the seat and joined the BJP ahead of the Assembly elections. Sharma, a former IAS officer who took voluntary retirement recently, is facing Congress nominee Sibamoni Bora and AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal in a three-cornered contest.
Addressing a gathering in Raha, Sarma focused on development and the continuation of government schemes. He announced that 10,000 more beneficiaries would be brought under the Orunodoi scheme in the area so that “no mother remains outside its ambit.” On infrastructure, he promised construction of 100 km of roads under Asom Mala and listed several local demands raised by Raha MLA Sashi Kanta Das, including a CDC office, DSP office, stadium, auditorium, science section at Raha College, a park, a 50-bed hospital and a bridge connecting Sapormukh and Maruarpatti.
“You all have made me the CM and this time, I am in a full mood of carrying out all the works,” Sarma told the crowd.
The Chief Minister also sharpened his attack on the Congress. In Laharighat, he used a fishing analogy against Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi, saying, “Gaurav Gogoi has kept my people in Congress. Whenever I need them, I fish them out. Whenever I feel like eating Rahu or Borali, I fish them.” He further alleged that senior Congress leader Rakibul Hussain was cornering government schemes meant for the people of Nagaon.
Sarma said the BJP’s campaign would centre on development, employment and recruitment of youth in government jobs, reiterating the promise of two lakh recruitments. The ruling party is banking on his series of rallies across the eight Assembly segments of the constituency to consolidate support.
