Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said Rahul Gandhi has left it to him and the party's state unit to decide on the issue of alliance.
New Delhi:
Virtually anointing himself as the chief ministerial candidate for the fourth straight term, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today said the coming Assembly election would be a direct fight between him and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and ruled out any alliance.
"Everyone's face will be there. But I will be the captain. I am the General of the party and Modi is the General of BJP," he said at a press conference.
Mr Gogoi was replying to a question on whether he would be the chief ministerial candidate of Congress or not in the state Assembly polls expected to be held in April-May.
The 79-year-old Congress veteran also ruled out any alliance with any political party saying Congress is more interested for electoral "understanding" with "secular" parties to defeat BJP.
"I am going alone. There will be no seat sharing. There will be no 'mahajoth', only 'maha-understanding' with some secular parties to ensure BJP's defeat. Understanding means vote for Congress but not BJP. Vote for AGP but not for BJP," Mr Gogoi said.
He said Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi has left it to him and the party's state unit to decide on the issue of alliance.
Mr Gogoi, who has been Chief Minister of Assam for last 15 years, however, admitted that the coming polls would be a tough one for Congress but he likes such challenges.
"BJP is eyeing Assam. It will be an interesting election. Every election is tough. I welcome tough election. A tough election makes us tougher," he said.
The Chief Minister said there is little anti-incumbency in Assam as such issues come if there is a failure in implementing promises. "Whatever little anti-incumbency is there, it will be overcome by our development work," he said.
"Everyone's face will be there. But I will be the captain. I am the General of the party and Modi is the General of BJP," he said at a press conference.
Mr Gogoi was replying to a question on whether he would be the chief ministerial candidate of Congress or not in the state Assembly polls expected to be held in April-May.
The 79-year-old Congress veteran also ruled out any alliance with any political party saying Congress is more interested for electoral "understanding" with "secular" parties to defeat BJP.
"I am going alone. There will be no seat sharing. There will be no 'mahajoth', only 'maha-understanding' with some secular parties to ensure BJP's defeat. Understanding means vote for Congress but not BJP. Vote for AGP but not for BJP," Mr Gogoi said.
He said Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi has left it to him and the party's state unit to decide on the issue of alliance.
Mr Gogoi, who has been Chief Minister of Assam for last 15 years, however, admitted that the coming polls would be a tough one for Congress but he likes such challenges.
"BJP is eyeing Assam. It will be an interesting election. Every election is tough. I welcome tough election. A tough election makes us tougher," he said.
The Chief Minister said there is little anti-incumbency in Assam as such issues come if there is a failure in implementing promises. "Whatever little anti-incumbency is there, it will be overcome by our development work," he said.
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