Tarun Gogoi swings back into action after Bihu

Guwahati: Chief minister Tarun Gogoi on Saturday resumed his favourite pastime, golfing, before attending office after a period of hectic campaigning and the Bihu holidays that came immediately after. He said he is confident of winning no less than 65 seats in the recently concluded assembly election.

However, not wanting to jump the gun, he added, "I am not a fortune-teller. The people's verdict will be out on May 19. We are ready to sit in opposition if that's what the people wish. We have the experience of being in power as well as sitting in opposition. Playing the role of the opposition effectively is also a big responsibility."

On Saturday, after spending an hour in the morning at the golf course at the Narengi army cantonment, he reviewed the progress of the ongoing works that have come to a stop due to the enforcement of the model code of conduct. He asked the chief secretary and director general of police to step up security measures on the disputed Assam-Nagaland border to stop Naga 'miscreants' from encroaching on the state's land. The two-phase election was over on April 11 but the code will be in force till the counting of votes in all five states on May 19. The chief minister has to take approval from the election commission before implementing any decision on behalf of the government. On Monday, 10 persons died of electrocution at Pengeri in Tinsukia district after a police bullet hit the overhead electric wire and snapped it. Gogoi had to take permission from the poll panel for payment of compensation to the kin of the deceased. "I don't understand how any government work or my decision here will affect voters in other states where elections are not over. This is an odd practice," he said.

He is scheduled to travel to New Delhi next week for a health checkup and to meet the finance, power and water resource ministers to follow up on the release of funds to the state.