Arun Jaitley confident of BJP victory

Union finance minister Arun Jaitley said here on Friday that a desire to change the “failed government of the Congress party” was sweeping Assam. Releasing the Assam BJP’s vision document, Mr Jaitley asserted that his party is all set to score a decisive victory in Assam and has strengthened its position in Kerala as well.

He reiterated that the BJP hopes to improve its position “significantly” in the four states and one Union Territory going to polls in April-May — Assam, West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.

Sounding confident about forming government in Assam, he said, “Our biggest challenge to translate this into reality was to bring all the anti-Congress forces on one platform. We have succeeded in doing so.”

Claiming that the “strong desire” for change in the state has genuine reasons, Mr Jaitley said, “People of the state are fed up with the Congress’ politics of slogans and want development to its potential.” He said the core strength of this prevailing desire to change the government is the youth of the state.

Mr Jaitley said the width of their alliance is also capable of transferring votes for the alliance on the ground. “Moreover, the freshness of our leadership has given impetus to our confidence. We have a galaxy of leadership compared to the Congress party,” said Mr Jaitley who also rejected Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi’s argument that the Centre discriminates against the state in allocation of funds. “A failed government is trying to find excuses where none exist,” said Mr Jaitley, asserting that Assam has been given a phenomenal hike of 148 per cent in allocation of funds during BJP rule at the Centre. “Let us be very clear that it is not the Central government but Finance Commission that allocates funds to the states. It is a constitutional arrangement,” he said.

He also clarified that Assam has been given funds for most of the schemes in a 90:10 ratio whereas this ratio of grant and loan is much higher.

Mr Jaitley lauded the vision document of the BJP for Assam while asserting that his government would ensure that it was translated into reality. He also inducted two Congress leaders, including its spokesperson Mehdi Alam Bora, into the party soon after releasing the vision document at Hotel Taj Vedanta on Friday.