Incumbency cannot stop Cong from returning to power: Gogoi

Incumbency would be a factor in the upcoming Assam assembly polls but it cannot stop the Congress from returning to power for the fourth consecutive term, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said today.
"There is always pressure during elections. Besides, we will be facing the pressure of incumbency. Congress has to fight. But if it can win three consecutive elections, then why not a fourth time?" Gogoi told reporters during an interaction here.
He said that the pressure is not only on Congress, but the BJP is also under considerable pressure as it faced recent defeats in several states like in Bihar, Delhi and Uttarkhand and even in panchayat polls as in Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.

Gogoi said during election there is always a possibility of communal, divisive and even extremist forces raising their heads and these ultimately affect the course of development.
"We have to fight against these forces but the common man cannot be taken for granted or underestimated. The common man will take decision taking all factors into consideration and we have full confidence in him," he added.
Asked how he gauged the pulse of the common man on the forthcoming assembly polls, Gogoi, who has helmed the state for the past three terms, said, "It was healthy. Neither very high nor very low and if my diagnosis is correct, the common man is with us and we will return to power."

He said 2015 was much better for Assam than 2014 as far as containing law and order and development was concerned.

"There was remarkable improvement in law and order situation with less clashes, ethnic or insurgency related violence last year compared to the one previous to it," he said.
In the Non Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR)
category, the Budget has provided Rs 700 crore compared to Rs 970 crore in 2015-16, the Chief Minister said.
Talking about the Rs 100 crore grant to Bodoland Territorial Area Districts, Gogoi said, "Even I give more than that to the Bodoland Territorial Council. When Modi came, he promised to give Rs 1,000 crore on demand from BTC Chief Hagrama Mohilary, but now he is giving this. It is good that he (Mohilary) is cheated."

Mohilary's party Bodoland People's Front (BPF), which was a Congress ally during last Assembly polls, has joined hands with the BJP for the forthcoming elections after getting assurance of Rs 1,000 crore special package from the BJP.
When asked if Congress would consider taking back BPF on board if it decides to return back for an alliance, Gogoi said, "We have made it very clear that we will not go for an alliance with BPF."
On Rs 5,000 crore allocation to the entire North East for building roads and bridges, the Chief Minister questioned how was the Centre going to fulfil Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari's announcement of Rs 1,00,000 crore investment by his Ministry in the region over the next five years.

Regarding granting of ST status to Koch-Rajbongshi, Tai-Ahom, Chutia, Moran, Motak and Tea tribes, he said BJP was playing "political gimmick" on the issue.
"Earlier, they agreed to give the ST status. Now they have formed a committee to fix the modalities. This is just playing a hide and seek game to fool the Assamese people before the polls," Gogoi added.