BJP to go alone in Assam assembly polls of 2016: Dharmendra Pradhan

GUWAHATI: BJP to continue its Lok Sabha polls formula of going solo in 2016 assembly polls in Assam. Union minister of state for petroleum and natural gas Dharmendra Pradhan who is also the minister in charge of BJP in Assam said that party will go alone in assembly polls 2016.

He said that the party has been able to mainstream itself in Assam. "People here want change and are looking forward to BJP. We will go alone."

Pradhan has toured the Upper Assam areas and on Friday in Guwahati said, "Earlier despite winning Lok Sabha seats we were not able repeat the same in assembly seats. However the party has grown well in Brahmaputra valley where the party swept the Lok Sabha polls."

Brahmaputra valley is the Congress bastion. Pradhan added, "In Lower Assam we have build good network of the party. In Central Assam we always had our presence as we won the Lok Sabha seat there for several times."

BJP had alliance with regional party, Asom Gana Parishad(AGP) in Lok Sabha polls 2009. The poll pact has worked for BJP as it managed to get four seats. However both parties parted ways and fought 2011 assembly election on its own.

Fighting alone BJP in 2014 parliamentary polls secured seven seats. The saffron party's highest number of seats in Assam. Pradhan said, "We are strategizing with Central ministers coming here frequently. Assam is our focus. The party has increased its presence among different communities."

BJP has swept the civic bodies polls however the Saffron party could win only one seat in the recently held sixth scheduled area, Bodoloand Territorial Council polls. Pradhan said, "We will have to analyze the results of Bodoland elections."