Gaurav Gogoi during his election campaign in Samaguri, Assam.
Kaliabor:
In election season, the number of "election offices" that spring up in every locality is, perhaps, a good way to assess the organizational strength of a political party.
As we drive down NH 37, one mostly sees posters of the father-son duo, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and his 32-year-old son Gaurav Gogoi.
So does it mean Congress does not have much of a challenge? "No. People definitely want a change. Being in power for 13 years creates a certain kind of election machinery. That's what you are seeing," says Arun Sharma of the Asom Gana Parishad who's pitted against Gaurav Gogoi.
Gaurav Gogoi will contest from the Kaliabor seat in central Assam, a seat that has been a bastion of the Gogoi family. His uncle has represented it for the past 10 years, and his father has been an MP from the area twice.
We catch up with Gogoi junior who's out on a roadshow. He is accompanied by wife, Elizabeth, who works with a voluntary organisation that deals climate change issues.
I ask Gaurav about the criticism that he's got a chance to contest the elections only because of his surname. "Surname is important but there are important criteria. People are looking for what solutions you can offer," says Gaurav.
How does he respond to people saying that he is an outsider and can barely speak Assamese? "I think people know that I am sincere in my efforts to improve my public speaking...When there were major floods in Kaliabor in 2011, I was there with them," declares Gogoi. Even his wife makes an attempt to connect with the voters by speaking in Assamese.
At Samuguri, a minority dominated assembly constituency that comes under Kaliabor, the mood in the Congress camp is upbeat. They admit that an alliance between the BJP and the AGP would have made the fight more difficult.
Our next stop is Bokakhat, barely 20 kms from Kaziranga and known for its tea and puri sabzi. Here, people raise the issue of rhino poaching and illegal encroachments inside the park.
In his rallies, Narendra Modi attacked the Assam government's poor track record in stopping rhino killings and illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. It's an issue that finds resonance among people. Yet, doubts persist if the BJP has put up a strong candidate in Mrinal Saikia, who does not have a strong political background but has contested once before in 1998.
The AGP has put up two-term Lok Sabha MP, Arun Sharma. In his public meetings, Sharma focuses on the lack of development in the constituency. When we ask Sharma if an alliance with the BJP would have helped, he says: "We were negotiating with the BJP but the state leadership was not interested."
Clearly, Kaliabor is a prestige battle for the chief minister to ensure his son's win but a divided Opposition may have made his job easier.
As we drive down NH 37, one mostly sees posters of the father-son duo, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and his 32-year-old son Gaurav Gogoi.
So does it mean Congress does not have much of a challenge? "No. People definitely want a change. Being in power for 13 years creates a certain kind of election machinery. That's what you are seeing," says Arun Sharma of the Asom Gana Parishad who's pitted against Gaurav Gogoi.
Gaurav Gogoi will contest from the Kaliabor seat in central Assam, a seat that has been a bastion of the Gogoi family. His uncle has represented it for the past 10 years, and his father has been an MP from the area twice.
We catch up with Gogoi junior who's out on a roadshow. He is accompanied by wife, Elizabeth, who works with a voluntary organisation that deals climate change issues.
I ask Gaurav about the criticism that he's got a chance to contest the elections only because of his surname. "Surname is important but there are important criteria. People are looking for what solutions you can offer," says Gaurav.
How does he respond to people saying that he is an outsider and can barely speak Assamese? "I think people know that I am sincere in my efforts to improve my public speaking...When there were major floods in Kaliabor in 2011, I was there with them," declares Gogoi. Even his wife makes an attempt to connect with the voters by speaking in Assamese.
At Samuguri, a minority dominated assembly constituency that comes under Kaliabor, the mood in the Congress camp is upbeat. They admit that an alliance between the BJP and the AGP would have made the fight more difficult.
Our next stop is Bokakhat, barely 20 kms from Kaziranga and known for its tea and puri sabzi. Here, people raise the issue of rhino poaching and illegal encroachments inside the park.
In his rallies, Narendra Modi attacked the Assam government's poor track record in stopping rhino killings and illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. It's an issue that finds resonance among people. Yet, doubts persist if the BJP has put up a strong candidate in Mrinal Saikia, who does not have a strong political background but has contested once before in 1998.
The AGP has put up two-term Lok Sabha MP, Arun Sharma. In his public meetings, Sharma focuses on the lack of development in the constituency. When we ask Sharma if an alliance with the BJP would have helped, he says: "We were negotiating with the BJP but the state leadership was not interested."
Clearly, Kaliabor is a prestige battle for the chief minister to ensure his son's win but a divided Opposition may have made his job easier.
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