By Bhupen Goswami

Guwahati : Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress (TMC) has decided to start its political journey in Assam with the upcoming panchayat polls scheduled in December. According to the party senior leaders Didi’s political squad will contest in panchayat polls in the name of five martyrs, who died in Dhola incident on November 1. As per sources, TMC to fight for the rights of those whose names were struck off the NRC’s list. Firhad Hakim, the party’s observer for Assam met the family members of the five Bengalis killed in Tinsukia district on November 1 by unknown assailants. A video clip of Hakim’s address was circulated by the Assam unit of the Trinamool Congress. The party’s focus is to field candidates in the areas dominated by Bengalis. Rural elections in Assam will be held in two phases, on December 5 and 9, and the results will be announced on December 12. November 15 and November 19 are the last date for submission of nominations for the two phases, respectively. Hakim met local Trinamool Congress leaders and finalised the election campaign plan. The party has already released names of some candidates. Over the past couple of months, the party is investing time on re-organising the leadership and coordinating with Assam-based Bengali organizations for strengthening the grassroots level.Assam Congress has finalized the final list of Zila Parishad Candidate for the upcoming Panchayat Polls for the first phrase. The selection committee held a meeting which was held at Sonapur’s Disang resort where the final candidature list was prepared. The remaining candidates would be finalized in the following two days. It is to be mentioned that, this time female candidate would get priority in the Panchayat Polls. The meeting was chaired by former Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, Ripun Bora, Debabrat Saikia and MP Gaurav Gogoi. Senior Congress leader and former DoNER minister Pawan Singh Ghatowar on Tuesday said that the first round of candidates have been selected for the upcoming Panchayat polls. The Panchayat polls in Assam will be held in two phases on December 5 and December 9 in 26 districts and 14 civil sub-divisions. The counting will take place on December 12.