Congress got late in exposing Narendra Modi: Tarun Gogoi

GUWAHATI: Pushing 80, he doesn't care about the trivialities of life. Even in Assam Congress, there are many who criticise his ways. "So what" he says. "Congress is a huge party and there will be such things. At my age, these things don't bother me. The Congress isn't like Mamata's party or Jayalalitha's or Modi's".

Like him or not, he is the grand patriarch of the state Congress and one of the party's seniormost leaders nationally. And Tarun Gogoi, chief minister, Assam, has delivered what matters. There were talks recently of Rahul Gandhi not being too happy with him. Rahul flew down to Guwahati and told Congressmen: "Who says that? If Tarun Gogoi says something, we listen very carefully. Because, he has that kind of experience. I may have a different view, but so what?" Afterall Tarun Gogoi's Assam Congress hasn't lost a single election ever since he took over. And in 2014 too, Gogoi is confident to win atleast 12, if not all 14 seats!

In an exclusive interview with ET, Gogoi was in absolute mirth. Never once did he lose his calm—a fact that surprised even CMO old-timers for Gogoi is also known for his volatile moods. The UPA-II, he said lost the game on three counts.

"This is my personal view. But I am convinced that nationally the Congress suffered because of (1) its propaganda machinery started off way, way too late, (2) it lacked terribly where it counts most—in strategy, and (3) somewhat also due to the global economic pressures. But the first two were critical".

The Congress, he felt, should have gone full tilt into Modi atleast a year back if not more. It should have torn into Modi long back. "That's where the propaganda machinery failed" he said. "They are now beginning to do that." And Gogoi felt every major political party was late in picking on Modi, they just let him grow. "Even Mamata started late, everybody was late".