Thaindian News

Guwahati, May 10 (IANS) The ruling Congress party and the opposition both exuded confidence of forming the next government in Assam ahead of the vote counting on May 13.

Assembly elections for the state’s 126 constituencies were held April 4 and 11.

“We are confident of coming back to power for the third straight term as the people voted us for good governance, stability, and peace,” Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said.

The opposition too is optimistic that the election would help bring in change.

“People of Assam gave a vote for change and we are confident of winning the polls,” Chandra Mohan Patowary, president of Assam’s main opposition Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), said.

An estimated 76.03 percent of Assam’s nearly 18 million voters exercised their franchise to decide the fate of 986 candidates in the fray.

Although no one has emerged as the frontrunner, the Congress has a slight edge as the opposition in Assam remained fractured - the three main parties, the AGP, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and the Asom United Democratic Front (AUDF), fought the polls on their own without any pre-poll alliance.

The Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) with 11 legislators in the outgoing assembly has a formal pre-poll alliance with the Congress.

“We would get the numbers and if required we can take the help of others. But such a situation would not arise,” the chief minister said.

In the numbers game, the AGP and the BJP could team up, but parties like the AUDF would not support any combination if BJP was part of it.

“Question of supporting any combination with BJP simply does not arise,” AUDF president Badruddin Ajmal said, adding that his party would emerge as the kingmaker after the results.