Fearing poaching, Assam Cong candidates to stay at a hotel

Guwahati, April 18 (IANS) Apprehending poaching by the rival party, the main opposition Congress in Assam on Saturday assembled its candidates at a hotel here, party sources said, adding they would stay there till the results of the recently held Assembly election are declared on May 2."Congress candidates would remain together at a hotel till the results of the Assembly elections were declared on May 2," a party leader said. AICC General Secretary and the party's Assam in-charge Jitendra Singh claimed that the "Mahajot (grand alliance) would secure a big majority in the 126-member assembly".Congress leaders held a closed door meeting in Guwahati on Saturday. Congress Legislator Party leader Debabrata Saikia said Saturday's meeting is "almost a normal meeting after the election and some strategies were taken in the meeting". After a week's stay in the Congress-ruled Rajasthan, All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) candidates returned to Assam on Friday after the Covid-19 cases were rising in the west Indian state.The AIUDF is a partner of the 10-party "Mahajot".Another ally of the grand alliance, Bodoland People's Front has shifted its candidates from Assam to a neighbouring country fearing poaching by rival camps.The 3-phase polls in Assam concluded on April 6 and results will be declared on May 2.
--IANS sc/pgh