Progress block to poll prize for ruling coalition

GUWAHATI: It has been observed in elections over the years in the state that development issues have a direct impact on the poll outcome of ruling political parties. This time, the present coalition government comprising the Congress and the Bodoland People's Front (BPF) will have to face anti-incumbency problems from the deprived sections of society. According to political analysts in the state, corruption and deprivation will emerge as pressing issues for the ruling parties during the coming polls, to a much greater extent than the last assembly election in 2006.
"The ruling government will face anti-incumbency problems in the forthcoming assembly election," said professor Akhil Ranjan Dutta, who carried out a series of surveys at different places in the state.The analyst said that deprived citizens from different classes, especially farmers, have expressed their disappointment in the rampant corruption prevalent in government departments.
Addressing deep concern over the deprivation of minimum dues and facilities for the labour class both in government and private organizations, labour leaders also expressed their disappointment in the role of the present government in the state. "The government couldn't fulfil the needs of the common workers, including Anganwadi employees, in the state. No amount of promises will influence the labour class in this election," said Tapan Sharma, a CITU leader in the state.
Sharma said the government's failure in controlling spiralling prices of essential commodities has affected the common people in the state.
"The labour class does not have the means to make even the minimum income required for survival. The government has not been able to control price rise either. Why should workers vote for the ruling party?" asked Sharma.
The Assam chapter of Centre of Trade Unions (CITU) has been demanding a proper wage structure and facilities for all sections of private and public sector employees as per the labour law in the state.
Although the ruling party is playing the development card for winning the election, it is corruption in government departments responsible for the uplift of people from the grassroots level to the very top that has made citizens angry.
"The government is trying to play the development card. But, corruption in the system across all levels has caused impediments in the development of the deprived sections of society," said professor Chandan Sharma, who teaches sociology at Tezpur University.
Sharma said majority of the needy people in rural areas have been left out of development programmes although these schemes are funded by the Centre.
However, analyzing the latest anti-incumbency trend in the state, analysts said that the opposition parties also couldn't exploit the situation because of their inactiveness in creating awareness among the deprived sections of society.