Kokrajhar, June 22: Assam Pradesh Congress Committee President, Gaurav Gogoi, was met with a massive, enthusiastic reception today upon his arrival in Kokrajhar. The leader is on a crucial two-day visit to the Bodoland region, a strategic move by the party to consolidate its position ahead of the eagerly anticipated Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) elections.
Gogoi, who travelled by the Down Rajdhani Express, disembarked at Kokrajhar Railway Station to a veritable sea of fervent supporters. The air was thick with chants of “Gaurav Gogoi Zindabad,” creating a high-octane, almost festive ambience. The sheer volume of the crowd made movement on the platform a near impossibility, as devoted party workers vied for a glimpse of their leader.
During his itinerary, Gogoi is slated to visit the contentious Bashbari area, where he will personally inspect the much-debated land allotment of 3,400 bighas to the Adani Group. This issue has already stirred significant public outcry and political sparring. He is also scheduled to pay homage at the revered Mahamaya Temple, a significant cultural and religious landmark in the area.
A key part of his outreach will be a public rally in Tulshibil, where the Congress leader will directly engage with local residents and party cadres. This interaction aims to galvanise support and build momentum for the Congress campaign in the BTC region.
Addressing the media during his visit, Gogoi launched a sharp attack on the ruling BJP and the current BTC leadership. He unequivocally accused them of prioritising corporate interests over the welfare of the common populace.
“People of Assam have not received land, but big corporate families like Adani and Ambani have,” Gogoi stated, speaking to reporters. He further alleged, “Under the guise of welfare schemes, ordinary citizens are handed Rs 1,000 or Rs 2,000, while ministers and their families walk away with benefits worth Rs 10 lakh, Rs 20 lakh, even Rs 30 lakh. Schemes meant for the poor have been hijacked by the families of ministers and MLAs.”
Gogoi also made it abundantly clear that the Congress party will go it alone in the upcoming BTC elections, ruling out any pre-poll alliances. He reiterated the party’s commitment to solely focus on strengthening its organisational base in the region.
These forthright remarks by Gogoi are expected to significantly escalate the political discourse in the run-up to the BTC polls, signalling a more assertive and grassroots-centric campaign strategy from the Congress camp.
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