Guwahati, 11 September (HS): Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday said the Congress is unlikely to return to power in the state for the next 20 years, while asserting that the BJP would put up a strong fight in the upcoming Nagaon Lok Sabha by-election.

Addressing a press conference at the Assam BJP headquarters, Sarma said Nagaon has not traditionally been a BJP stronghold, but claimed that the minority community in the constituency had shown an “unprecedented” response towards the BJP over the past few days.

Reacting to Congress criticism over the candidature of former Nagaon Deputy Commissioner Devasish Sharma, CM Sarma said Congress too has fielded several people who entered electoral politics after leaving government service. He defended the BJP's decision to nominate Debasis Sharma, saying such a transition was not unique to his party.

CM Sarma further claimed that the Congress currently has little political presence in Assam and said there was no possibility of the party returning to power after the BJP-led alliance won 102 seats in the recent Assembly elections. He also said it was natural for several Congress leaders and workers to join the BJP out of frustration.

The Chief Minister also announced a month-long programme to mark Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday and his completion of 25 years in parliamentary politics. The BJP will observe the programme from September 17 to October 17 under the theme “Jan Seva Hi Narayan Seva”, with 12 programmes planned as part of the month-long “Seva and Sankalp” campaign.-----------

Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash