BJP, oppn use Eid outreach to court voters

Guwahati: Candidates from both BJP and Cong-led opposition alliance used Eid on Saturday to reach out to Muslim voters, visiting Eidgah grounds across Assam and greeting worshippers after namaz.In Dhubri, BJP candidate Uttam Prasad was seen distributing soft drinks to worshippers coming out of the Eidgah maidan on Saturday morning. He is in a closely watched contest in a constituency where Muslim voters are seen as decisive. “On the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr, I extended heartfelt greetings to everyone this morning, offered my services with a spirit of service, and wished for everyone's well-being,” Prasad said.

Opposition alliance candidates also marked their presence at Eidgah grounds in several constituencies. Congress’s Dispur candidate Mira Borthakur Goswami, Nalbari candidate Ashok Sarma, Raijor Dal’s Tezpur candidate Alak Nath, and AJP nominee Kunki Choudhury in Guwahati Central visited Eidgah maidans and met worshippers during Eid namaz.In Guwahati, Goswami met people after namaz while steering clear of political remarks.

“I wish Eid Mubarak to everyone today and offer my best wishes with a hope that the days ahead will be good for everyone,” she said.At Machkhowa Eidgah maidan in Guwahati, AJP candidate Kunki Choudhury said she had come to greet people and seek blessings. “I am a new candidate and thus came here to celebrate this day. I am a new candidate and need blessings from all,” she added.In Tezpur, Raijor Dal candidate Alak Nath was seen among worshippers during namaz and later greeted them with hugs.AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal, contesting from Binnakandi, offered Eid greetings online from Mumbai. Without directly referring to politics, he made an appeal to voters in his constituency. “For the people of Binnakandi, male, female, elderly and children, I offer my best wishes on Eid-ul-Fitr. In this Eid, we should not make any mistake so that we have to feel ashamed at the same time next year,” Ajmal said.