The Congress may be rejoicing UPA’s win in Assembly polls in three out of five states. But it was a matter of rather personal triumph for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh when Tarun Gogoi returned to power third time in a row.
The hat-trick to Gogoi in crucial polls gladdened Prime Minister’s heart as he represents Assam in the Rajya Sabha. He had been representing Assam ever since he came into politics and takes personal interest in its affairs with regard to development and related issues. He has a personal rapport with the Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi as well. The third significant factor in Assam was that he had actively campaigned in the state during the Assembly polls. He participated in both the phases of campaign and went out of his way to appeal to the people to defeat the divisive BJP style of campaigning.
The Prime Minister was in Kabul when the counting of votes was underway and the moment it surfaced that Congress is nearing two-third majority in the state, he rang up Tarun Gogoi to congratulated him. Of course, he congratulated TMC chief Mamata Bannerjee also who dislodged the Left from West Bengal after 34 years.
The Assam victory is also a message to those who think that Dr manmohan Singh is no star campaigner. In fact, the campaigning style of Tarun Gogoi was in such a low-key that almost all pre-poll surveys had predicted that the Congress is on a weak wicket. But it was the development plank of the Congress, liberal aid from the UPA government and failure of almost all groupings to connect with the masses that led to this massive mandate.
Meanwhile, speculation is on about who will replace Mamata Bannerjee in the Railway Ministry. Since there is no Cabinet Minister or Minister of State with Independent charge belonging to the TMC is in the Union Cabinet, it would impossible for the PM to give this portfolio to a Minister of State. A reshuffle of the Union Council of Minister is on the cards within the next fortnight will enable the TMC to induct new faces.
