Tarun Gogoi's desperation proves Congress on its way out in Assam

Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi has shocked one and all with his intemperate behaviour even as Assembly elections are underway in his state. The veteran politician - who is completing 15 years of three consecutive terms at the helm in the land of "Bhoot Jolokia" (ghost pepper, one of the hottest chillies in the world) - has been deliberately and blatantly flouting the model code of conduct.

On April 11, while the second phase of Assembly elections was underway, Gogoi called a press conference in the morning. Despite the ECI asking him not to go ahead with the presser, the 81-year-old chief minister not only held it but also came down heavily on the election watchdog. The ECI termed Gogoi's actions a violation of the "Model Code of Conduct" (MCC). Now, he faces strict action for defying the ECI's ban.

This was not the first time that Gogoi had violated the MCC. According to reports, even on April 10 - a day before the elections when no public meetings can be held - he was seen addressing a crowd at Beltola Bazar in Guwahati.

Gogoi is known for his cool and composed persona. It is unprecedented for the senior Congress leader to challenge and question the ECI in this manner. On April 7 too, just three days after the first phase of elections, he came down heavily on the ECI, questioning its neutrality over the enforcement of MCC. "I have serious grievances against the Election Commission. It seems to be biased to some extent during its checks. Its flying squads have carried checks on my wife, PCC president Anjan Dutta, cabinet minister Rakibul Hussain, but we have not seen similar action being taken against our rivals even though money has been distributed in Jalukbari and in tea gardens of my constituency," he complained.

Titabar is the chief minister's Assembly constituency while Jalukbari is the constituency of BJP's state election management committee convener and friend-turned-foe Himanta Biswa Sarma. "Our members and workers are being harassed but our rivals are going scot-free. Am not at all happy with the role played by it (Election Commission)," Gogoi said.

Why is Gogoi behaving in such a manner?

Such a behaviour on the part of an experienced politician can be termed as defeatist. It is only when a defeat stares a political party in the face that its leaders get rattled and indulge in blame game. Gogoi's grumpiness too stems to arise from the prospect of Congress' defeat after 15 years' anti-incumbency.

Secondly, after trying all means to get votes, Gogoi's last refuge has been to play victim in order to gain the sympathy of voters. As a survival strategy, he is hoping to paint the ECI and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in a bad light to benefit from the votes of fence-sitters at the last moment.

Finally, the chief minister seems to be engaged in groundwork for an escape route in the event of his defeat. If his party wins, he will say that it won despite adverse circumstances. But if it loses, he has a readymade alibi - that the ECI joined hands with the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre to defeat him.

Whether or not Gogoi's ploy works, the veteran politician has certainly set a bad precedent.