Lok Sabha polls 2014: Congress has its task cut out in Assam's Nagaon

NAGAON (ASSAM): Congress is banking on polarization and muslim votes to wrest Nagaon seat from BJP which has for last several years remained BJP's citadel in Assam.

BJP's Rajen Gohain has won this seat since 1999. In 2011 congress has won six assembly seats out of nine seats in the Nagaon, two assembly segments were won All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) and one by Asom Gana Parishad(AGP).

BJPs old war horse Gohain is favourite to retain the seat. Nagaon Lok Sabha has over 15 lakh voters of which at least 35 percent belong to the Muslim minority.

Congress has changed its candidate and fielded, MLA Jonjonali Baruah, while AIUDF has given ticket to Aditya Langthasa and AGP has fielded woman candidate, Mridula Borkakoty.

Congress is expecting that polarization of votes will help congress as muslims will vote for congress. In 2009 Muslim votes got split between congress and AIUDF, which helped Gohain to win by little over 40,000 votes.

There are eight candidates in the fray for the seat however at least five of them are Hindus. Dulal Haq a voter in Lahorighat area told ET," Sirajudin Ajmal, younger brother of perfume baron and AIUDF president Badrudin Ajmal contested in 2009 and we voted him. However by voting for Hujur (Sir) Sirajudin votes got wasted as BJP won the seat. This time we will cast vote for congress."

There is also growing disillusionment among the minority community against AIUDF in this constituency which is the vegetable producing hub of the state.

Abdul Kasim another voter in the constituency said, "Despite being an MP for so many years Gohain has failed to solve the land erosion problem of the area."

While illegal influx from Bangladesh continues to dominate the electioneering in the constituency, BJP is riding high on Narendra Modi in the constituency. Raju Sarkar, a voter in Hojai assembly said, "For us it is matter of identity and we are safe only with BJP."