(photo:source)

Shillong, Feb 13: Exuding confidence that the ruling Congress party will retain power in Meghalaya, former Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Tuesday said, Meghalaya elections results will definitely give a boost to the party in next year Lok Sabha elections.

“They (BJP) came to power in 2014 with promises to the people… but they could not keep any of their promises they have made to the people, and people are upset with them,” he told journalists.

Accompanied by senior Kerala Congress legislator K.C. Joseph, Chandy has been deputed by the Congress President Rahul Gandhi to campaign for the ruling Congress party in the run up to the February 27 assembly elections.

Lashing out the BJP-led NDA government for its failure to tackle inflation, the veteran Congress leader said, “The price rise was the main issue raised by the BJP against the then UPA government. But in the last four years (BJP in power), ordinary people and farmers are suffering like anything. There has been no intervention and the people are at the mercy of the profit makers in the business.”

Questioning the government over the rising prices of petrol and diesel, the former Kerala Chief Minister exuded surprised that despite the oil prices in the international market came down by one fourth.

“During the last four years, the Oil price came down up to 42 US$ per barrel … But there is no concession to common man and instead they have increased the excise duty upto five times,” he said, alleging that the beneficiaries of prices are Oil companies.

Noting that Congress party under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi will take the initiative to unite all democratic and secular parties in the country to unseat the BJP in next year Lok Sabha polls, Chandy said, “ The Congress is quite confident to lead a United Front with the democratic and the secular parties.”

“The Meghalaya (elections) results will definitely give a boost to the party. We will fight out against BJP in the polls,” the former Chief Minister said.

Asked whether Congress will support Left party in Tripura, and other regional parties in Nagaland and Meghalaya after the polls, Chandy said,” Congress is for a united front of secular and democratic forces. The CPM has put some reservation. But even then Congress will go ahead with the strong view of secular and democratic forces.