Flood, plantation, influx among major poll issues in Assam

The recurring flood and erosion problem, housing for the poor, welfare schemes for tea garden workers, Adivasis, backward classes and SHGs are the main issues dominating the coming Lok Sabha elections in Assam.
The Congress nominees during the electioneering are highlighting the economic reforms undertaken by the UPA, eradication of poverty schemes, MNREGA and social justice measures, particularly for the tea tribes and women, its state unit Chief spokesman Mehdi Alam Bora said.
The Self Help Group (SHG) scheme is a crucial issue during the poll here underscoring its role in giving employment to both the youth and women voters, Bora said.

The BJP is harping on the change factor, by triggering development under the leadership of Narendra Modi, fight corruption, seal the Indo-Bangladesh border, grant refugee status to the victims of religious, social and political atrocities in Bangladesh, party state unit General Secretary Santanu Bharali said.
Turning to local issues, the saffron party has promised to also make efforts for fulfilling the demand for Article 244(A) in Karbi Anglong district, improve the condition and increase production of the world's oldest running refinery at Digboi, save rhinos from poachers, oppose construction of mega dams in the upper reaches of river Brahmaputra, Bharali said.

For the regional party Asom Gana Parishad, illegal migration from Bangladesh is again its poll plank on which it was voted to power immediately after its formation in 1985.
The contestants of the party, which had come to power for second time in 1991, are also seeking votes on local issues such as opposition to big dams, implementation of the Assam Accord, curbing price rise, 100 per cent employment to locals in public and private sector offices in the state, said its publicity secretary Manoj Saikia.