Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said here on Saturday that the ideological battle between the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would continue, though the electoral battle in the State was over.
At a press conference, Mr. Gogoi alleged that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh had played a dangerous game of divisive politics during this election in the State under the mask of the development plank of the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate, Narendra Modi.
Mr. Gogoi said the Congress would secure more seats. In 2009, the party won seven of the 14, the BJP four and the Asom Gana Parishad, the All India United Democratic Front and the Bodoland People’s Front one each. He attributed the high turnout — 80.08 per cent — as a sign of return of normality to the State.
Showering praise on the former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the Chief Minister said the BJP leader was a liberal who opposed the demolition of the Babri Masjid. Mr. Vajpayee did not approve of the Gujarat riots and advised Mr. Modi to follow Raj Dharma when the riots took place.
