The highest number of BJP candidates were elected unopposed in the two-phase panchayat polls, scheduled to be held in Assam on December 5 and 9. The Congress and AGP were second and third respectively.
According to data received by the Assam State Election Commission from 26 districts where panchayat elections will be held, altogether 734 candidates were declared elected unopposed, including 442 candidates for the first phase and 292 for the second phase.
These candidates had filed nominations for the posts of zilla parishad member, anchalik panchayat member, gaon panchayat president and gaon panchayat member.
An official source told The Telegraph that of these candidates, 380 are from the BJP, 193 from the Congress, 28 from the AGP, 10 from the AIUDF, one from the CPM, five from the Bodoland Peoples Front (BPF) and 117 Independents.
Amid widespread protests in the state against the BJP over the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, the election of 380 BJP candidates unopposed has given a boost to the morale of BJP leaders and workers in the state.
Assam BJP spokesperson Rupam Goswami said it is an indication that the BJP is going to sweep the upcoming panchayat elections.
“People of the state have full confidence in the BJP and our victory is imminent. The Opposition parties did not have the support of the people and that is the reason why they could not find candidates in so many seats,” Goswami said.
The Congress, however, dismissed this contention of the BJP.
Senior spokesperson for Assam PCC Apurba Kumar Bhattacharya accused the BJP of misusing the government machinery and intimidating Congress candidates to withdraw their nomination at many places.
“The election of the BJP candidates uncontested does not mean that they have the support of the people,” Bhattacharya said.
“If the BJP has the support of the people, then why are chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal and finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma travelling in helicopters from one place to another campaigning for the BJP?” the Assam PCC spokesperson wondered.
“I have never seen a ruling party, which has governments both at the Centre and in the state, under such tremendous pressure as a result of which two of its top leaders had to hire choppers to campaign for the panchayat polls,” he said.
“We hope the Congress will get the people’s mandate,” Bhattacharya said.
Altogether 16 districts will go to polls in the first phase and 10 districts in the second phase. Repolling, if any, will be held on December 7 for the first phase and December 11 for the second phase. Counting of votes will be held on December 12.
Sarma criticised the AGP, Congress as well as the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind president Arshad Madani during the campaign at Teok in Jorhat district on Friday.
Addressing a gathering at the Rajabari playground, Sarma said the AGP was seen to be backed by Na Axomiya, (literally new Assamese people, meaning migrants), whereas the BJP was backed by indigenous Assamese people. The sitting MLA of Teok is Renupoma Rajkhowa of the AGP. Sarma said the BJP was committed to taking the state forward by stressing on the progress of the Tiwas, Misings, Morans, Muttocks, Sonowals and Karbis.
He said the Congress paid lip service to women's empowerment by invoking the names of Kanaklata, but real empowerment was being brought about by the BJP which had given Rs 25,000 to each self-help group instead of the Congress government in its 15-year rule.
Sarma said that Madani was against the NRC updation process and was now opposed to Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, while the BJP was committed to updating the NRC without errors.
Jorhat goes to the polls on December 5.
Additional reporting by Devajit Baruah in Jorhat
