Congress to repeat Bihar in Assam, says Rahul Gandhi

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi here on Friday said his party would repeat its Bihar performance and retain power in Assam. Mr Gandhi, who interacted with members of the self-help group at Gauhati Medical College Hospital auditorium, told reporters, “We defeated our opponents in Bihar. I am confident that we will be able to continue our performance and defeat our opponents in Assam also.”

Lauding the performance of Mr Gogoi, Mr Gandhi said, “Mr Gogoi has worked hard and we are confident that Congress will form the government again in 2016.”

About the alliance, Mr Gandhi said, “Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi and PCC chief Anjan Dutta will take a decision on the alliance. We are in touch with them.”

Mr Gandhi also attended an extended meeting of the APCC executive committee soon after he reached Guwahati. Mr Gandhi will kick off the party’s campaign for the coming Assembly elections in Assam with a “communal harmony walk” in Barpeta district on Saturday. Barpeta, a Muslim-dominated district, is also the revered seat of 16th century Vaishnavite culture.

Congress intends to intensify its “communal and divisive forces” charges against the BJP by launching Mr Gandhi as a champion of communal harmony in his first public appearance in the run-up to the assembly election due next year.