Tinsukia (Assam) [India], April 15 (ANI): Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Monday dismissed Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh's remark that there is an undercurrent in favour of the Congress in North-Eastern states and said that it is an illusion.
With a sarcastic smile, he said, "This is their (Congress) illusion. They don't have neti (policies), neta (leaders), or niyat (intentions). They have lost their way. The public has rejected them from their hearts. They only exist in the media."
Earlier today, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh claimed significant support for Congress across all states in the Northeast, including Assam.
"All the states of the North East have a strong undercurrent in favour of the Congress: Assam, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Tripura. Our candidates are fighting strongly. Some state governments, especially those in Assam, are trying to create hurdles in our campaign. Assam CM and 7 of their ministers are paying attention to only one seat. The CM is sitting in Jorhat because he is nervous that our candidate, Gaurav Gogoi, will definitely win," Ramesh said.
Notably, Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi will challenge BJP leader Topon Kumar Gogoi in the 2024 elections from the Jorhat Lok Sabha constituency.
Meanwhile, Topon Kumar Gogoi is a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from the Jorhat parliamentary constituency and a sitting MP.
Congress Leader Jairam Ramesh and Supriya Shrinate addressed a press conference in New Delhi today.
Further, Sonowal showed confidence in the BJP-NDA alliance, stating that the alliance will secure up to 23 out of 25 seats in the upcoming elections.
"They won't win anything. They are heading towards zero. That's why, as I have said before, the people have seen development and benefited from it. The people have gained confidence. They have the opportunity to live with dignity and have received social security. All of this is thanks to PM Modi. For what he has done in 10 years, people have faith in him. That's why you'll see in this election, BJP with the NDA alliance will win up to 23 out of 25 seats," Sonowal said.
The Lok Sabha polls for 14 seats in Assam will be held in three phases starting on April 19.
In this Lok Sabha election in Assam, the BJP is contesting in 11 out of 14 seats, while its ally parties, Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), are contesting in two seats (Barpeta and Dhubri) and UPPL in one seat (Kokrajhar), respectively.
In the Lok Sabha elections of 2014, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured 7 of the 14 seats in Assam.
Both the Congress and the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) claimed three seats each. During the 2019 elections, the BJP increased its seat count to 9, while the Congress maintained its three seats, and the AIUDF won a single seat. (ANI)
