As the Lok Sabha elections are just round the corner the battle for the Guwahati Lok Sabha constituency is prepped for a battle between Bharatiya Janata Party’s Bijuli Kalita Medhi and Congress’s Mira Borthakur. GPlus exclusively talks to them on them, their strategies and how they hope to fare.
We will break all earlier records, says Bijuli Kalita Medhi
Click here to join our WhatsApp channel
Your story so far
I was born in Guwahati, did my schooling from Holy Child and graduation from Handique Girls’ College. I did my Master’s from Guwahati University. By profession I was a teacher. I have worked in several private schools and colleges. I joined BJP in 1998. I was actively on field since 2013. I had contested in GMC Council elections from ward number 23 in 2013. In 2016 I was selected as the Deputy Mayor. I was appointed as president of the party’s State Mahila Morcha for two terms. I am the core committee member of the party in the state and now I will contest Lok Sabha elections.
As you are contesting from Guwahati, what do you think are the major issues of the city?
There were many issues but now our governments at the Centre and in the state under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and chief minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, respectively have found the solution for everything.
So are you saying that there are no issues in Guwahati anymore?
The present issues will be resolved soon. We will see that in 2024, one part of Guwahati will get water because drinking water is the main issue facing the city. But now our government under the leadership of Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma has tried to solve this problem and he is still at it. The people of Guwahati will get water very soon.
Other issues?
No. You can see that communication is so smooth now in Guwahati and artificial flood, which was one of the problems, is also being solved at fast pace. So soon, all the problems are getting solved under the leadership of our dynamic leader Himanta Biswa Sarma.
Since many years Guwahati is being represented in the Lok Sabha by women and now you too will contest. What do you think are the major issues which women in Guwahati face?
This is the land of Maa Kamakhya so all the representatives from Guwahati like Bijoya Baideu, Queen Baideu and now I have got the opportunity to serve the people of Guwahati. In the land of Maa Kamakhya, women get the opportunity to work. They are safe in Guwahati. If any issue arises then I am there to raise it in the parliament.
So you are saying that there is no issue for women in Guwahati?
Yes, because you see that for women empowerment our government is taking lots of steps… to give a safe and secure life to all women.
But women complain about issues like unavailability of proper public toilets and public transport. Pink buses have suddenly stopped besides many other issues
How many people are complaining!
Many women are complaining
Then I will see to all the issues, and I will be their voice.
Who was a better performer, Bijoya Chakravarty or Queen Oja?
Regarding Bijaya baideu , I can say that she got a lot of time to work for people, but in the last five years as you have seen that that there was Covid for two years so, Queen baideu didn’t get the same opportunity or that environment to work.
What are the challenges you faced to get the ticket?
Actually, these elections are to elect Narendra Modi for the third time. So the face will be Narendra Modi.
But there must be many aspirants from BJP who might have wanted the ticket for Guwahati…
BJP is a disciplined party. This is not just a dialect. So, there were many people in line, but the party selects one candidate and so all accepted the party’s decision and they all are with me now. So this is the difference between BJP and other parties.
Lok Sabha MPs from Guwahati were not seen asking many questions in the Parliament, how would you be different if you win?
I told you that now I will be the voice. I can assure you and all Guwahatians that whenever needed, whenever required, I will raise my voice.
There are new assembly segments added under Guwahati Lok Sabha constituencies, how will you woo the new voters?
Yes, I have travelled across all the assembly segments under the Guwahati Lok Sabha constituency, and under the constituency, there are three districts and under these three districts we have 32 organisational mondols. I have travelled to all the districts and the mondols after the announcement of my name and met with all the party workers who are on the field. I will connect with everyone.
By how many votes do you think you will win?
I cannot say the proper number. You all know, you all are moving around, but I can assure you that we will break all the earlier records.
-------------
I didn’t face any challenge to get Lok Sabha ticket, Says Mira Borthakur
Your story so far
I was a very naughty child in my younger days. I was born in Nagaon and I did my schooling from Gandhiji Vidyalaya. I graduated from Nagaon College. I have been interested in politics since my early days. Talking about profession, I used to supply clothes such as school uniform, bed sheets for hospitals etc. I even have a dairy farm. I joined politics since my student days in the 90’s. I joined Congress in March 2021 and took part in the elections as a representative from West Gauhati. After 21, I was appointed as the state president of Assam Pradesh Mahila Congress and the journey continues till now.
What according to you are the major issues of Guwahati?
Drinking water is the major issue. Here, not all houses have access to drinking water. And this issue is not only confined to urban Guwahati but the rural areas as well. And as you might have seen in the news, Guwahati is the second most polluted city. So, I would like to pose this one question to Himanta Biswa Sarma through your platform, you built so many bridges in Guwahati but why is there so much of pollution below them. In every area such as Navin Nagar, Gandhi Basti, Tarun Naga, or Bhaskar Nagar, there is no environment for people to live.
What are the major issues for women in Guwahati?
Major issue would be price rise. Even I as a woman would want to feed my family healthy food in a smaller budget. But right now we have to buy LPG cylinders for Rs.1200. The cost of mustard oil is Rs 200. This government is giving Rs 1200 to women, but if you focus on the root cause, you will see that they are not really doing any welfare for women. Secondly, 11442 schools have been closed and wine shops are opening, even this poses a major issue for women. A jobless man might spend money to buy liquor and come home drunk. Children after closing of schools will follow the same path. This environment that has been created is directly affecting women. Moreover, the scheme of Lakhpoti Baideu that is being advertised is a trap. It’s a loan. It’s not like the money will be given to women free of cost. Even, in microfinance they said that the women will be freed of their debts, but most of the women continue to be in debt. They just kept it pending due to which high interest had to be borne by those women. And those women who were relieved had an agreement which stated that none of their family members will be eligible for taking bank loans. So, I believe that this was an injustice to women. Even in NCRB reports, you can see that crime against women has been on the rise. And to bring down the crime rate, Himanta Biswa Sarma ordered police stations to not register cases of crimes against women.
Who according to you was better between Bijoya Chakravarty and Queen Oja?
Bijoya Chakravarty was better than Queen Oja and very active as well. Queen Oja baideu as a person is good but as an MP, she was not up to the mark. She couldn’t give any report so she was removed. I said to everyone that due to the things that Queen Oja didn’t say and that previous MPs couldn’t say as well, they were removed. But no matter whichever MP comes next, no one will be able to speak up against Himanta, Amit Shah and Modi. If no one speaks up and maintains silence then how will the issues of Assam be raised. Gaurav Gogoi might not remain a part of our government but he is the one who raises the issues of Assam in the Parliament. Such an MP should be the one to go.
What are the challenges you faced to get the ticket to contest for Lok Sabha?
I didn’t face any challenges as such. I didn’t even go to Delhi once. Bhupen Da sir asked me to be in the field so sometimes I thought that I haven’t even been to Delhi, will I even get the ticket? But I got it. Once when Bhupen da was in Delhi, I had asked him whether I should come to Delhi for the ticket? But he said that there was no need. Just concentrate on the constituency. So I had no challenges to get the ticket.
There are new assembly segments added under Guwahati Lok Sabha constituency, how will you woo the new voters?
My strategy is that I want to spread awareness. During Covid, the business that was done from people who were ill and hiding behind closed doors is something that people should know about. It was also said that all indigenous people should get land. But they were just provided with Basundhara. We took all issues between common people and tried to make them understand. I think people understand the issues. This is the planning we move forward with.
You know that Congress has been losing. You are contesting now. By how many votes do you think you will win?
That I can’t say because it will upset the public. Public has its own mind. But it isn’t like the BJP, which wasn’t in power for 34 years, but formed their government in Assam by taking people from Congress. Minus the presence of Himanta Biswa Sarma, I am in doubt as to how much they will be able to run the government. The Congress people know how to run the government. They are doing everything by taking Congress members. Tarun Gogoi ran the government for 15 yrs. Moreover, all the corrupt members of Congress are in BJP now. So, whatever happens now will be good. And Rahul ji has done the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. He assembled lakhs of people. There is no more BJP in the south. BJP does a good marketing undoubtedly. So, I believe that now is the time for change. The constituency is in crisis. Democracy is going to collapse as even for writing a poem someone can go to jail for three months. Election commissioner resigned a month before the elections. So there must be immense pressure. Raghunath Rajan, such a great economist resigned due to the pressure as well. Those who are in favour of Assam and India do not remain with them. If you love your state and if you love your country, you should resign from BJP and join our party.
Are you confident you will win?
Definitely. We will win 10+ seats in Assam.
