GUWAHATI: Newly appointed Congress in charge for Assam and former chief minister of Uttarakhand, Harish Rawat said that Congress will increase its parliamentary seat tally from the present three to 11 in the state in Lok Sabha polls next year.

“The assessment is that we can increase our seat count to two digit numbers. I can say that we will be able to improve our tally from three at present to 11 in 2019. After all Assam is the mika (maternal home) of the Congress and it will spring back,” Rawat told TOI

Rawat, who is arriving here on Thursday for meeting with the state Congress leaders after his new appointment, ruled out the allegation that the party is riddled with factionalism.

“There is nothing like factionalism or internal differences within Assam Congress. There are lots of good and capable Congress leaders in the state who have immense contribution in the growth of the party. I am confident each of their strengths and capabilities will help the Congress to make a comeback with double digit seats count,” Rawat said.

“Northeast is Congress’ home and Assam is the party’s mika. Unfortunately we lost Assam (in 2016). Subsequently it affected other Northeast states (where Congress was in power) and BJP came to power,” Rawat added.

With the BJP and its allies in North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) setting the target to win 21 out of total 25 parliamentary seats in eight states of the region, Rawat said that the saffron party’s expectation will not be fulfilled.

“Everyone knows how BJP pumped in lot of money and bad practices just to capture power especially in Manipur and Meghalaya assembly polls where Congress emerged as the largest parties. BJP wants to capture power at any cost. But Northeast is such an important part of the country that the region cannot be seen only for grabbing power. Congress does not see Northeast only to capture power. It is the part of the country where Congress is linked emotionally and sympathetically,” Rawat said.

Rawat said that his emphasis would be to engage more and more youths in party activities in the state.

