HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, Nov 6: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on Congress MP and former minister Rakibul Hussain alleging that the latter gave government jobs through backdoor during his tenure as minister in the state.
Sarma told reporters here, “Rakibul Hussain himself acknowledged that he had given government jobs while he was the minister in Assam during the Congress regime. However, a minister is not capable of jobs to anyone and hence Hussain must be interrogated by the police on his claim.”
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The chief minister further said that once the elections are over, the police will act against the Congress MP.
“I have asked the police to interrogate Rakibul Hussin after the by-elections,” he said.
Byelections in five assembly constituencies—Dholai, Samaguri, Behali, Bongaigaon, and Sidli became due following the elections of five legislators in the lower house of the parliament in this year’s Lok Sabha polls.
Except in Samaguri, where Congress heavyweight Rakibul Hussain has been winning since 2001, the rest of the four seats are with the BJP-led alliance. According to pollsters, due to the dominance of Muslim voters in the Samaguri seat, Congress has an edge over the BJP in this seat.
The BJP fielded candidates for three seats—Dholai, Samaguri and Behali.
Diplu Ranjan Sarma has been given ticket in Samaguri while Diganta Ghatowar and Nihar Ranjan Das will fight for the BJP in Behali and Dholai assembly segments respectively.
BJP’s two allies—Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL) are contesting polls in Bongaigaon and Sidli assembly constituencies.
CM Sarma claimed that the BJP and its allies will easily win in the four assembly constituencies that are heading for the bypolls; however, the ruling dispensation will face competition in one seat.
The chief minister kickstarted his campaign for the by-elections in Assam on Tuesday from the Dholai assembly constituency in the Cachar district of Barak valley region.
He said, “We will comfortably win four seats and there is a contest in one seat. However, there are possibilities that the BJP and our allies can win all five assembly seats in the upcoming by-elections.”
