Guwahati: Leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spoke in different voices about the party's prospects in the coming Assam polls - one saying the party is aiming for bettering its election tally this time, another exuding confidence about forming the next government on its own, while a third seeking to predict many seats it would win. Almost the entire top party leadership is in Assam for the April 4 and April 11 assembly elections where it has put up candidates in all the 126 constituencies.
"We are forming the next government in Assam on our own. That is what we are aiming at," BJP leader Sushma Swaraj told journalists Tuesday here. Sushma Swaraj addressed election rallies in the Barak Valley in southern Assam. Meanwhile, her party colleague had different takes on the state assembly elections.
"We have four BJP MPs from Assam in the Lok Sabha and had 10 party MLAs (legislators) in the assembly. Our aim is to increase the number of MLAs in the assembly and we are confident of increasing the number in a big way," Arun Jaitley told journalists here. Jaitley too was in Assam to campaign for the party candidates in eastern Assam.
There were poll predictions as well with former BJP president Rajnath Singh going to the extent of pinpointing the exact number of seats the party would win. "We are sure to win at least 40 seats and would be able to form the next government. We would get the support from others," Singh said without elaborating.
Party chief Nitin Gadkari was also confident of the BJP coming to power. "People in Assam are looking for change and that change and alternative is what the BJP would provide in the state. Just watch, the BJP is set to form the next government," Gadkari said at a rally in the oil township of Duliajan on Tuesday.
Party leader Shahnawaz Hussain too is in Assam, campaigning in the minority Muslim dominated areas in Barak Valley. "The minorities would vote for the BJP this time and I am confident we would be able to form the government in Assam," Hussain said.
There were film and TV stars - Hema Malini and Smriti Irani - to canvass for the party as well. "The way you all loved Hema Malini for years, I only wish you would begin to love the BJP like you loved me," Hema Malini told an election rally in Tinsukia in eastern Assam.
But the ruling Congress party is not amused with the appeal. "People of Assam would never accept a communal party like the BJP in Assam. We have more beautiful women than Hema Malini in Assam," Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi told IANS.
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