BJP prepares ground for tribal council polls

Guwahati: After its victory in the Lakhimpur parliamentary and Baithalangso assembly seats in the bypolls, BJP is now gearing up for next month’s tribal autonomous council elections.
Elections to the Deori Autonomous Council and the Thengal Kachari Autonomous Council will be held on December 15. BJP said it is going to cash in on the inroads made by the saffron party in the tribal areas of the state during the assembly election.
BJP spokesperson Rupam Goswami said the party has already finalized its candidates for the autonomous council elections.
“BJP is fully prepared to contest the upcoming polls with confidence. We have stepped up our election activities in the council areas,” Goswami said.
BJP leaders are confident that the party will be able to successfully garner tribal votes on the jati, mati, bheti (identity, land and homeland) plank.
“Our party’s presence in tribal areas has only strengthened since the Lok Sabha polls. For the tribal voters, BJP has emerged as a political alternative to Congress. The recent Lakhimpur parliamentary seat and Baithalangso assembly constituency have shown that the tribals are with BJP,” a senior BJP leader said.
BJP has retained the Lakhimpur parliamentary seat after it was vacated by Sarbananda Sonowal, who became chief minister in the assembly polls. Baithalangso also went to BJP.
Meanwhile, BJP has launched its attack on Congress, saying that it has no right to oppose the demonetization process. Goswami demanded that former chief minister Tarun Gogoi should come clear on the utilization of Rs 12,000 crore raised in the CAG report during his rule.
“The common people are cooperating with the demonetization process. Congress going against the demonetization is only an expression of its frustration. Instead of opposing demonetization, Congress should have helped people open bank accounts and exchange notes,” Goswami said.