Buoyed by Silchar win, BJP gearsup for 2016 polls

Silchar: Inspired by BJP’s massive win in Silchar in the Assam byelection, state committee president Siddhartha Bhattacharyya on Thursday said BJP would come to power in the state in 2016.
Addressing the media here at the office of BJP’s district committee, Bhattacharyya said the recent byelection in the state was a ‘semi-final’ preceding the ‘final’ of 2016. “In the finals, BJP will come to power in the state”, he added.
He accused Congress of using money and muscle power in the three assembly segments which went to the polls on September 13. However, people thwarted the ruling party’s intention, he said.
“The more Congress leaders try to work against the spirit of democracy, the more people will fight back. While BJP ensured a massive win in Silchar, it showed an improved performance in Lakhipur and Jamunamukh,” said Bhattacharyya.
On being asked about his “controversial” remarks on the state government’s recent move to withdraw Assamese as the official language of Barak valley, the BJP state president said he has been ‘misquoted’ by the media. Bhattacharyya was reported to have criticized the state government for issuing circular PLC 14/2011/39, dated November 30, 2013, regarding the use of Assamese as the official language in Barak Valley with immediate effect. “I was misquoted. I didn’t say anything in this line,” the state BJP president said on Thursday.
Another circular, PLC14/2011/47, issued on September 9 by the political (B) department said Bengali will continue to be used for all official work in Barak Valley. Earlier, BJP’s Cachar district committee took out a victory rally in Silchar. Apart from Bhattacharyya, newly-elected BJP MLA Dilip Kumar Paul, ex-Union minister Kabindra Purkayasthya and other senior leaders joined the procession.