Locals slam Assam Government ahead of polls

The people of Assam have voiced displeasure over the government for not doing any development work in the region.

Locals said the roads were in great disrepair and major drains of the East Guwahati area had been choked for months by garbage and filth.

"Though I am a voter from East Guwahati constituency and I have seen in last 10 years, during the election times, the candidates come here to do some development and after the elections they all forget it. And it is the practical aspect," Hamen Das.

Some locals said they would not vote Congress.

"I have already made up my mind that I won't give vote to Robin Bordoloi (Congress party's legislator). I would not support Congress government anymore. Since last elections, they forget the bad conditions of this area and did nothing for the development of this area," said Apoorva Bhagawati.

Local leaders also slammed the Congress government for the shortage of electricity and basic amenities.

"The Congress Government failed in all aspects, especially in a city like Guwahati, where during summers, people use boats for transportation. Apart from this, people have to walk for kilometers to get a few drops of drinking water and that is especially in this region," said Dhirendra Nath Adhikari, a candidate for East Guwahati from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

Elections will be held in Assam on 4 and 11 April in two phases for the 126 member state assembly.

The Election Commission has stated that 23,813 polling booths are being set up for the state's electorate of 18 million.

For the first time, overseas Indian citizens of Assam can also enroll themselves as voters and will be able to vote. (ANI)