Tarun Gogoi to contest 2016 assembly polls from Titabar in Assam

GUWAHATI: Octogenarian Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi rules out retirement from active politics and said he will contest in the 2016 Assembly elections from the Titabar constituency in Jorhat district.

It was earlier speculated that this may Gogoi’s last term in office, even Gogoi has earlier hinted that he may hang boots in 2016 assembly polls.

However Gogoi surprising said in Jorhat on Friday,"I will contest in the 2016 elections. From today I will lead the electoral battle with renewed vigour".

Assam government has announced a Rhino Protection Force with more than 1200 strong personnel to be raised for the protection of the rhinos soon.

Gogoi said that his government has already sent a proposal to the Union Minister of Environment, Forests and Climate Change and the force will take the shape very soon.

The BJP had made poaching of the one-horned rhino an electoral issue during the Lok Sabha polls last year. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said during electioneering that rhinos were killed to help settle illegal immigrants from Bangladesh.

Gogoi has asked the park authorities to take the help of the National Investigating Agency to deal with the rhino poachers and bust its trade routes across inter-state and international borders.

Chief Minister Gogoi further said that he is already in touch with several public sector undertakings for getting corporate social responsibilities funding for modernization of anti-poaching infrastructure in the Park. He directed the Director, Kaziranga National Park to prepare suitable project proposals for the same.

He announced that he would soon constitute a Development Authority for the Kaziranga Landscape under his Chairmanship to address comprehensively the issues of the conservation and development.