Amit Shah was wrong in Chhattisgarh and he will be wrong in Assam, says Bhupesh Baghel

Five years ago, we were in the seat of power here. Indeed, Tarun Gogoi’s government was in Assam for a long time, for the previous three terms to be precise. There were undoubtedly certain degrees of anti-incumbency and people of Assam did not elect us in 2016. It also came as a setback when a strong leader like Tarun Gogoi passed away last year. But the party, as you will see, has recovered and is very much in the race. We are putting up a tough fight on every seat. Congress workers are active up to the booth level and its effect can actually be seen in BJP’s strategy.

Many BJP candidates have been changed. BJP has been forced to change the seats of candidates in many constituencies. Even though it is the ruling party, it is not seeking a mandate on the strength of its chief minister and his work. If Sarbananda Sonowal’s government has done a good job in the state, why is the BJP not presenting him as its chief ministerial candidate? Apparently, they are so scared that their strategy now is only to mislead people.

First, look at the CAA issue. BJP is saying something in Assam, something else in Bengal and Tamil Nadu. Those who speak with a forked tongue on one issue are double faced and called hypocrites. Elections are not merely for making fresh promises. If you are in government, then you also have to perform. Their strategists know that they have failed miserably to perform and hence their anxiety to change the goalpost and the narrative.

Whether it is the case of daily wages of tea garden workers or about its promise of generating jobs, BJP has failed. When nothing seemed to work, they have started their usual trick of dividing and polarising people on the basis of religion, the usual Hindu-Muslim politics. Like the British, BJP has been adept at pursuing a policy of ‘divide and rule’. But people have seen through their tactic. The people see how a sword is dangling over the citizenship of so many people in Assam. A bureaucrat only has to write ‘D’ (Doubtful) on the papers of a citizen and his/her life is ruined. It may take them 20 years to get their voting rights back. This means that the BJP does not trust its citizens, but is still asking votes in their name. Who can blame people in Assam if they feel disgusted and used?

Congress has always played a major role in Assam. That is why the party is here and our presence is everywhere. All that was needed was to be better organised. I am thankful to the Assam Pradesh Congress, which invited us here and gave us the opportunity to assist. We helped create a framework for information, coordination and programmes. State Congress leaders and Assam Congress workers are fighting the elections. And whatever impact you see on the ground is the result of cooperation and coordination. Congress is going to form the government this time.

I have brought my track record in Chhattisgarh to the people of Assam, and they have patiently heard us out. It was important to communicate to the people how we fulfilled our promises in Chhattisgarh. Because BJP makes promises in every election but never cares to fulfil them.