New Delhi, May 19 (IANS): As the BJP created history in Assam and is set to form its maiden government in the northeast, the pro-talks faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) has said the new government should resolve the state's "identity crisis on a priority basis".
The faction, which is in peace negotiations with the central government since 2010, has also sought that the new government should complete the process of updating the National Register of Citizens (NRC), which it says is "the only feasible solution to the illegal migrants issue, which has led to much bloodshed in the state".
"Among the major expectations are the faster update of the NRC, which makes things clear about who are the illegal migrants in the state. Another expectation is that the government should certainly help in sealing an accord between the ULFA and the Indian government," Sashadhar Chaudhury, a senior cadre of the ULFA faction that favours talks with the govenrment, told IANS.
Referring to the 15 years of Tarun Gogoi-led Congress rule in the state, Chaudhury, who was formerly part of the underground movement, said: "People wanted change and to get rid of the Bangladeshi-based politics in Assam, which the new government should take care of."
The first phase of the ambitious NRC updating process was completed some years ago, and the second one has begun. The process involves upgrading the register of 1951 by enlisting names of "genuine" Indian citizens, one of the key decisions of the tripartite talk among the Centre, the Assam government and All Assam Students Union (AASU) during the signing of Assam Accord in 1985.
"People want a government of our own people, and once the NRC comes, it will segregate the Bangladeshis from Assam," Chaudhury told IANS.
During its election campaign, the BJP, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, had reiterated that if the party came to power it would seal the India-Bangladesh border and tackle the issue of illegal immigrants.
Arabinda Rajkhowa, former chairman of ULFA and now the main leader of the pro-talks faction, told IANS: "Assam faces an identity crisis. The new government has to understand that they have been given the mandate to resolve the problem in the state that has prevailed for some time now."
"In comparison to the Gogoi regime, the new government will have to work more for the existing social problems of Assam. They have to understand that the only reason they have got the mandate is because people have faith in them, and the new government has to deliver," Rajkhowa told IANS over phone from Assam.
Gogoi accepts defeat, says Congresswill play role of constructive opposition
Guwahati, May 19 (IANS): Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Thursday accepted defeat in the assembly polls and said the Congress party will play the role of a constructive opposition in the legislative assembly.
"We accept the mandate of the people. I thank the people of Assam for giving us three terms to serve them. Now the people want us to sit in the opposition and play the role of a constructive opposition and I thank the people for that," said Gogoi addressing the media at his official residence at Koinadhara Hills in Guwahati. "It is only natural to feel bad about the result but I am not depressed. In democracy, one has to accept the verdict of the people and we have accepted that. We are going to try our best to play the role of a constructive opposition," he said. "I am thankful to the people that they have not abandoned the Congress completely. May be there are some shortcomings on our part or may be that the people have expected more from us than we delivered," he added.
Gogoi said that he had already congratulated Sarbananda Sonowal for the victory. "It is a grand success for them. The BJP, the AGP and the BPF came together this time and won the polls," he said adding that he wll remain active in politics. The chief minister said the party is going to analyse the loopholes and deficiencies in the party and the factors that led the BJP and its allies to victory.
Conrad Sangma wins Tura by-poll
Tura, May 19 (IANS): National People's Party (NPP) candidate Conrad K. Sangma won the by-election to the Tura Lok Sabha constituency in Meghalaya by nearly two lakh votes.
Conrad -- the youngest son of late former Lok Sabha speaker Purno A. Sangma -- defeated Congress rival Dikanchi D. Shira, wife of Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, by 1,92,212 votes in a straight contest. The by-poll was necessitated by Purno Sangma's death on March 4. Conrad, 38, secured 3,29,497 votes while Shira, a legislator from Mahendraganj constituency, bagged 1,37,285 votes.
As many as 16,597 voters went for 'None of the Above' option.
