Patharkandi Updates

Patharkandi Updates brings you 'News' related to the high-profile constituency of Patharkandi which is going to poll on April 4. Click on this post link to open it.

CPM says AIUDF dangerous like BJP

TNN, Mar 31, 2011, 12.20am IST

SILCHAR: Stating that communalism in all colour was a serious threat to the integrity of the country, CPM leader Nilotpal Basu on Wednesday said the AIUDF was as dangerous as the BJP.

Addressing a CPM election rally here, the Left leader from West Bengal said the actions of the AIUDF chief Maulana Badaruddin Ajmal "have brought the party of the minorities on a par with the BJP".

Basu said the CPM's aim was to oust the "corrupt Congress" from power and also stop communal forces from coming to power in the northeastern state.

He added that the Left parties would contest the Assam elections together with the CPI and the CPM contesting 17 seats each, CPM-ML eight and Forward Bloc five. The parties would also back two Independents in the fray. Of the 15 seats in the Barak Valley, the CPM would contest in two segments Silchar and Patharkandi. Read here

"We wanted to fight the April 4 and April 11 assembly elections in Assam with like-minded and secular parties that are opposed to the BJP, the Congress and the AIUDF. We wanted to take AGP in the fight with us. But the regional party failed to respond to us," Basu said.

Criticizing the Congress for failing to tackle insurgency and stop infiltration, the CPM leader urged upon the people to vote against "10 years of misrule of the Tarun Gogoi government" and pave way for a "secular and democratic government" in the state. "The Left parties are still hopeful about bring all secular and democratic forces together after the elections and form the government," Basu added.

He also criticized Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for "failing to take action against his cabinet colleagues who were accused of various corruption cases".

What's age got to do with polls?

Prabin Kalita, TNN, Mar 19, 2011, 12.21am IST

GUWAHATI: Elections, as we all know, are about winning or losing. And politics is an addiction that's difficult to kick once one has been enveloped in its fold. It doesn't matter whether one wins or loses, one just cannot give up the fight.

The grand old men of politics in Assam, who seem to have politics running in their veins, are all set to beat their ages and their young opponents as they brace for yet another shot at the state's biggest democratic exercise.

According to Election Commission (EC) records, in the 64 constituencies that go to polls in the first phase on April 4, a total of 529 men and women have filed their nominations and of them 12 are septuagenarians. The names listed are those of old war horses whom their respective parties continue to bet on.

Two of these senior citizen candidates, Pramode Gogoi of CPI and G C Langthasa of Congress, are at the top of the list. Dimasa strongman Langthasa, who is a former minister, is fighting from his home constituency, Haflong. He won this seat first as an Independent way back in 1983 and then again in 1985, 1991 and then in 2001 and 2006. Langthasa, standing at 79 years, will be contesting a rival his grandson's age. On the other hand, the Left leader, Pramode Gogoi, will try to regain his Sivasagar seat from another senior citizen, 75-year-old Pranab Gogoi of Congress. The Left leader had won this seat in 1978 first and then again in 1991 and 1996.

Chief minister Tarun Gogoi, who's 74, is also a member of this elite club. He is preparing to take on his rivals again in his home constituency, Titabor. Aiming to lead the party to a third straight win and earn a third successive term as chief minister, Tarun Gogoi is one of the youngest among the group of old men. "I am not the seniormost. There is Langtahsa; and Muhib Mazumdar and Premadhar Bora are even older," the CM laughs.

While reposing their faith on their old warhorses, parties have also shown trust in Generation X. Besides, there are many young contenders who have filed nominations as independents.

The youngest candidate seeking to fight the election is a 24-year-old Independent, Nazim Uddin, who is contesting for Patharkandi constituency. There are five candidates from various constituencies who are 25 years old, just a year older than him.

However, the four major parties Congress, BJP, AGP and AIUDF are fielding many older candidates in the first phase of the election from 64 constituencies. They have nominated 84 candidates in the ages between 50 and 70. The number of relatively younger candidates between 20 and 40 years of age is 107. Party-wise speaking, for the first phase, Congress is fielding 7 candidates in the 70s bracket; 11 who are 60 years or more; 18 in the 50s bracket; 13 in 40s age group and nine in their 30s. On the other hand, BJP has just one candidate who is in his 70s; 3 are in their 60s; 11 in their 50s; 28 in their 40s; 11 in their 30s; and three in their 20s.

Most of AGP's candidates 24 are in the 40s age bracket, followed by 15 in their 50s; seven in their 60s; and 3 in their 30s. The AIUDF has also fielded one candidate above the 70 years of age; four in their 60s; 6 in their 50s; 8 in their 40s; 7 in their 30s; 1 in his 20s.

Hindus from Bangladesh are welcome: Gadkari

BJP president Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday said Hindus who faced religious persecution in Bangladesh were welcome anytime to the country and should be given citizenship status here.

Addressing two largely attended election rallies at Patharkandi and Ramkrishnanagar in South Assam's Barak valley that goes to the Assembly hustings on April 4, Gadkari said the BJP was firm on its stand that the Hindus from Bangladesh should be accepted even if they came after the cut off year of 1971.

"However, there was no question of giving citizenship to indigenous Muslims residing in the state for long and then those who have come after 1971 shall have to leave the country," Gadkari said in the minority-dominated areas near the Indo-Bangla border.

Launching a scathing attack on the ruling Congress both in the Centre and state, the BJP president said that corruption had become the rule of the day.

"The Congress was against any probe into all the corruption cases which will reveal their role", he alleged.

"Corruption will be the main election plank for BJP and we will be seeking mandate with a promise to provide good governance if voted to power", Gadkari said.

Gadkari, Hema Malini campaign for BJP in Assam

Guwahati, March 23, 2011

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president Nitin Gadkari and film actor and MP Hema Malini today campaigned in the Barak Valley and eastern Assam as the saffron party tries to woo the voters for next month’s state Assembly elections.

While Mr Gadkari confined himself to the Barak Valley, Ms Hema Malini went about addressing rallies in upper Assam. Mr Gadkari addressed three rallies at Katigora, Patharkandi and Ratabari.

The BJP has a good standing in the Barak Valley and wants to capitalise on that in this part of the state.

The dream girl of yesteryears participated in rallies in Tinsukia, Moranhat and Mariani.

The BJP has submitted a list of 40 star campaigners, who will canvass for the party in Assam. They include senior leaders like L K Advani, Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley and Narendra Modi.

Popular crowd pullers and BJP leaders, including Navjot Singh Sidhu, Smriti Irani and Shatrughan Sinha, will also campaign in the state.

Assam goes to the polls in two phases on April 4 and 11.

Profile of Candidates: Dr Baharul Islam—Man with UN assignment

Guwahati: Yes, he is on diplomatic assignment with United Nations, but now probably he is the most educated of 485 candidates in the Phase 1 poll for Assam Assembly. He is Dr K M Baharul Islam – candidate of All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) in Karimganj South assembly constituency.

Electoral debut

This is his second stint in electoral politics. He debuted in the last assembly poll (2006) in the state when he contested on AIUDF ticket for Patharkandi seat. Though he got 35000 votes he was defeated by BJP’s candidate. Just 41, Dr Baharul Islam is now trying his luck in Karimganj South.

He is the spokesperson and a high profile candidate of AIUDF. He may be contacted at drbahar@gmail.com. Cell (India) 094350-72356.

Karimganj South

In Karimganj South, which roughly comprises about 60% Muslim voters, he is taking on 24 candidates – 18 of them are Muslims. These 18 include candidates from three major parties including ruling Congress and opposition AGP, and 15 Independents. The voting will take place on 4th April. Will he win this time? Result will be out on 13th May.

Academic and Professional Profile of Dr Baharul Islam

Dr K M Baharul Islam has been working in the area of Information Technology policy and legal issues, teaching and researching information society and emerging knowledge economy for more than a decade. He has studied for his first Bachelors' and Masters' degrees at the Aligarh Muslim University (India). He completed his 2 nd and 3rd post-graduate degrees in Education (B.Ed) and Law (LLB) from Assam University (India). He did his PhD on New Technologies from Tezpur University (India) and finished his post-doctoral studies on Internet-based instructions at Asian Institute of Technology (Bangkok, Thailand). He has completed his LLM (IT & Telecom Law) at the University of Strathclyde (UK) and worked as off-campus scholar on the Master of Populations Studies program at the International Institute of Population Science, Mumbai. He is a licensed advocate registered with the Bar Council of India. His areas of legal specializations are Information Technology Law, Cyber Crimes, and Intellectual Property Rights of software and Liability in Information Society.

Starting career as a university faculty, he has taken keen interest in broadening the ICT implications for mass access and developmental use. As an institution builder, he initiated and headed the Center for Educational Technology at the National Institute of Technology (Deemed University), Silchar, India where he taught for more than eight years. He was part of the UNDP deputed faculty establishing the Kigali Institute of Science, Technology & Management (KIST) in post-genocide Rwanda in 2000. In 2002-2003, Dr Islam was seconded to the Addis Ababa University on a UNDP capacity building program as an Associate Professor. He received a Certificate of Recognition from The World Bank in December 2003 for his work on education of disabled children in Ethiopia.

Presently Dr Islam is on diplomatic assignment with United Nations and working as a specialist on ICT policy and e-Government with the UN Commission for Africa (UNECA). He is one of the few Asian experts trained by UNICEF as master trainer on emergency education sector reconstruction in the region. He has been involved in various UN projects in Asia and Africa in countries like Cambodia, Rwanda, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Ghana, Uganda, Kenya, Sudan, Egypt, Tanzania, Djibouti and Sierra Leone. His latest publications includes eGovernment Strategy for the Gambia (Published by UNECA) and National ICT Policy called NICI Policy and Plans for The Gambia and the Regional e-Government Framework for the East African Community (just finished) commissioned by UNECA. He has written a chapter of the first Encyclopaedia of Digital Governance being published in 2006.

Dr Islam was working as a Reader in the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) in India and was the Chairman of State for State Rural Technology Promotion Council in the Government of Assam.

Twin hopes: BJP brakes on Cong, EC on booze

Tulsi picks up where Basanti left off

A STAFF REPORTER

Jorhat, March 28: After Basanti, comes Tulsi.

Close on the heels of BJP star campaigner Hema Malini, Smriti Irani aka Tulsi of the Saas bhi kabhi bahu thi fame — the serial aired a couple of years ago on Star Plus — arrived at Jorhat to do her bit for BJP candidate Karabi Chakravarty here.

Hema Malini had come to Mariani in the district to campaign for BJP candidate Saurav Gogoi on March 18.

The TV actress continued the BJP agenda of Congress bashing stating that the party had done nothing in the name of development, unemployment and containing infiltration in the state, in the past 10 years, during a news conference at the temporary BJP office on KB Road early today.

“There are over three lakh educated unemployed in the state today and there is no hope that they will get jobs if the Congress comes to power again,” she said.

Irani said Assam was her home having been born in Dibrugarh and though she had come here many times earlier to campaign, she had seen no perceptible development in the state since then.

Projecting largescale infiltration into Assam as the topmost priority of the BJP as this was posing a threat to the security of the nation, Irani said whenever this issue was raised by the BJP, the Congress termed the party communal.

In response to the query if BJP was differentiating Bangladeshi Muslims and Bangladeshi Hindus as had appeared in a section of the media, Irani said she worked on facts and not on suppositions.

“I work on facts and not on suppositions or what is heard. Infiltration is the issue and every Indian citizen should be protected and feel secure as this is incorporated in the Constitution,” she said.

In response to another query as to what the BJP had done when it was in power for five years at the Centre, Irani said the fencing on the India-Bangladesh border had begun then but it was not continued by the Congress government, which came to power next.

Palit Bora, president of the BJP’s Kisan Morcha in the state and earlier state BJP vice-president, said the party was confident of winning 40 seats in the state.

On the breakdown of the alliance with the AGP, Bora said alliances should always be formed after polls.

The leader said the BJP had made a list where 43 out of 126 constituencies had witnessed a growth in population, which was abnormally high, and alleged that 50 per cent of the growth was because of influx.

In the list showed 30 per cent increase in Hojai constituency, Naoboicha and Sipajhar 31 per cent rise, Nagaon 32 per cent, Goalpara and Sorbhog 35, Patharkandi and Chaygaon 36 per cent, Hajo 40, Samaguri and Katigorah 41, Bor Dhola 42, Mangoldoi 43, Bar Kshetri and Boko 44, Golokganj and Kathchora 45, Karimganj North 46, Batadrewa 47, Bilasipara East 49, Barpeta 50, Hailakandi 51, Abhaypuri North, Algapur and Gauripur 52, Goalpara East 55 per cent, Badarpur and Horu Kshetri 56, Honai and Gahorita 57, Karimganj South 64, Dhubri 66, Dalgaon 74, Senza and Bilasipara West 76, Rupahighat 81, Jaleswar 82, Jamunamukh 84, Mancachar 89, Dhing 90, Jonia 92, Baghbar 96 and Salmora South 98 per cent.

“India was divided because it had a 23 per cent Muslim population in 1947 and going by this growth we can very well gauge in which direction the state is going,” Bora said

Taare zameen par, BJP lines up star campaigners

GUWAHATI: Room No 509 in a city hotel was abuzz with activity. Some people were poring over incessant reams of papers flowing out of a fax machine, some were busy on the cell phone, cancelling or confirming dates and some simply looked busy. Suddenly one announced, "Sushmaji is not coming. Her visit on Thursday has been postponed."

Instantly another person deleted her name from a list. The leader of the Opposition would not be available on that day for campaigning for the first phase of the elections on April 4.

BJP national president Nitin Gadkari and Dream Girl Hema Malini had kicked off the saffron party's campaign in the Barak Valley and upper Assam on Wednesday. Gadkari had addressed rallies at Ratabari, Patherkandi and Katigora in the Barak, while Hema Malini had addressed rallies in Tinsukia and Mariani in upper Assam.

The BJP has lined up an impressive star parade for its campaign: former deputy Prime Minister L K Advani, leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley, Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi, Bihar deputy chief minister Sushil Modi, television star Smriti Irani, former cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu and former Jharkhand chief minister Arjun Munda. Though dates are still tentative, it has been decided that Advani will attend rallies in Sonari, Rangapara and Bihpuria constituencies on March 30. The following day, Advani will hit Margherita, Khumtai and Dibrugarh. On April 1, he will be in Borkhola, Katigora and Ratabari.

Gadkari will revisit the state on March 28 and address rallies in Chabua, Doomdoma and Dibrugarh. On March 29, he will go to Duliajan and Teok. The same day he will be present at the release of the BJP vision document for Assam here.

Narendra Modi will campaign in three constituencies Naobaicha, Behali and Rangapara on April 1.

Jaitley will be on a hectic tour between March 26 and 28 at Dhemaji, Rangapara, Dibrugarh, Thowra, Moran and Mahmora. Smriti Irani will be campaigning in Doomdoma and Sadiya on March 27, Patharkandi, Badarpur and Ratabari on April 1 and Silchar and Karimganj South on April 2.

Sushil Modi is expected to be in Amguri, Bokakhat and Biswanath on March 26 and in Tinsukia on March 27. Navjot Singh Siddhu will campaign in Tinkhong and Naharkatia on March 27, followed by Digboi, Margherita and Lahowal on March 28. Munda will cover Dhekiajuli, Biswanath and Behali constituencies on March 29, Mahmora, Thowra and Lahowal on March 30 and Naharkotia and Digboi on March 31.

Other BJP leaders Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and Sarbananda Sonowal addressrf rallies in Sivasagar on Thursday, while Kiren Maheswari and Kabindra Purkayastha will campaign in Karimganj, Badarpur and Hailakandi on March 25.

"The BJP is a national party, and the arrival of so many national leaders indicate that our party is really serious about the development of Assam," said BJP spokesperson Dhruba Baishya.

The ruling Congress, however, is unperturbed by the star line up. "We are not at all concerned at the arrival of BJP national leaders. We have a strong grassroots base. Our organisational set up is so strong that the arrival of BJP national leaders will not affect us. BJP has to bank on leaders from outside because they do not have a strong base here," said a Congress leader.

8 new faces in AGP 4th list

Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, March 12 – The Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) today published its fourth list of nominees for 26 Legislative Assembly Constituencies. With these nominees, the party has so far announced the names of 94 of its nominees. Today’s list contains the names of eight new candidates.

The party has decided not to field any candidate for the Jonai and Majuli LACs as per an understanding with the Gana Shakti. The names of the party nominees for the remaining 30 LACs would be declared within a day or two, said party president Chandra Mohan Patowary at a press conference here today.

Patowary also informed media persons that the party has decided to field two candidates in Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao Districts as per an agreement with the Autonomous State Demand Com mittee (ASDC). It has also taken a decision for not field candidates in Kokrajhar East and West, Sidli, Bijni, Udalguri, Paneri and Majbat LACs as per an understanding with the Bodoland People’s Progressive Front (BPPF), he said.

The AGP list made public today, includes the names of party president Chandra Mohan

Patowary (61 Dharmapur LAC); Dr Alaka Sarma (59 Nalbari); Pabindra Deka (42 Patacharkuchi); Bubul Das (79 Jagiroad — SC); Moyidul Islam Bora (56 Kamalpur); Queen Ojah {(new face) (53 East Guwahati)}; Monoj Saikia {(new face) (51 Jalukbari)}; Phanidhar Barua (110 Naoboicha); Baburam Bey (17 Bokajan); Prabin Hazarika (76 Biswanath); Monoj Manki (125 Doomdooma); Dr Monoranjan Das (41 Bhawanipur); Kamaleswar Medhi (46 Sarukhetri); Upasana Gogoi {(new face) (96 Khumtai)}; Bhupen Kumar Bora {(new face) (78 Gohpur)}; Dr Mantumoni Dutta {(new face) (100 Titabor)}; Md Moinul Haque {(new face) (2 Patharkandi)}; Diganta Rabha (36 Dudhnoi — ST); Bireswar Medhi {(new face) (80 Morigaon)}; Utpal Dutta (111 Lakhimpur); Mukundaram Choudhury (65 Kalaigaon); Hemanta Kalita (102 Teok); Gunindra Nath Das (43 Barpeta); Monoranjan Sarma {(new face) (122 Tinsukia)}; Nazrul Islam (44 Jania) and Narayan Bhowmik (91 Hojai).

Cong, AGP face fury, both within and out

OUR BUREAU

Guwahati/Jorhat/Kokrajhar, March 12: The ruling Congress and the Opposition AGP today faced the heat from within and outside in the run-up to the Assembly elections next month.

The AGP, which announced its fourth list of 26 candidates this afternoon, saw its workers rise in revolt against the announcement of Hemanta Kalita as the party candidate ahead of Ashim Baruah — the choice of the 19 AGP anchalik samitis — in Teok constituency.

The samitis threatened to resign en masse if the central committee did not reconsider its decision.

Nearly 30 grassroots workers ransacked the AGP’s Jorhat office and shouted slogans against former AGP legislator of Teok Renupoma Rajkhowa who had allegedly backed Kalita, also a former party MLA from Titabor.

Kalita, while acknowledging rebellion in three or four samitis, said the others were backing him and he was confident of winning the seat.

Announcing the fourth list at the party headquarters in Guwahati amid protests and slogans by party supporters of Kesharam Bora in Bihpuria constituency, AGP president Chandra Mohan Patowary said the remaining 32 candidates, including Bihpuria, would be announced in the next couple of days.

The Congress, too, faced the heat, but from outside. The All Koch-Rajbongshi Students’ Union (AKRSU) launched a campaign against the ruling Congress-led government alleging apathy towards the causes of community by organising a nagrik sabha (citizen’s meet) at Rash Mela field in Kokrajhar.

The union’s president, Biswajit Rai said they would work against the Congress.

“The Rajbongshis are a determining factor in several constituencies and we will ensure that they vote against the Congress,” Rai said.

The BJP announced its remaining six candidates.

Today’s AGP list included Patowary (Dharmapur), Alaka Sarma (Nalbari), Pabitra Deka (Patacharkuchi), Bubul Das (Jagiroad), Moidul Islam Bora (Kamalpur), Queen Ojha (Guwahati East), Monoj Saikia (Jalukbari), Phanidhar Baruah (Naoboicha), Baburam Bey (Bokajan), Prabin Hazarika (Biswanath), Monoj Manki (Doomdooma), Monoranjan Das (Bhabanipur), Kamaleswar Medhi (Sarukhetri), Upasana Gogoi (Khumtai), Bhupen Bora (Gohpur), Montumoni Dutta (Titabor), Moinul Haque (Patharkandi), Diganta Rabha (Dudhnoi-ST), Bireswar Medhi (Morigaon), Utpal Dutta (Lakhimpur), Mukundoram Choudhury (Kolaigaon), Gunindra Nath Das (Barpeta), Monoranjan Sarma (Tinsukia), Nazrul Islam (Jonai) and Narayan Bhowmick (Hojai).