Security personnel prepare to leave for the polling stations in Silchar on Thursday. Picture by Eastern Projections

Guwahati, July 30: Political parties in Assam are ready for a “dress rehearsal” for the 2011 Assembly elections even as the government is taking steps to ensure peaceful civic polls tomorrow.

A tight contest is on the cards, primarily between the AGP-BJP combine and the ruling Congress, to win the civic bodies ahead of the big battle in less than two years.

The civic polls are important for the Congress not only from the point of view of Assembly elections but also for “intra-party” peace.

“An adverse result could spur dissidence. Already 27 MLAs have sought a reshuffle in the ministry as some ministers are not performing. From ministers to MLAs to party leaders, everybody is under pressure,” an insider said.

The AGP-BJP alliance cannot afford another lacklustre show as in the parliamentary elections. “If it can’t win more than 50 per cent of the (civic) bodies, questions will arise about the efficacy of the alliance and this will put pressure on the leadership of both the parties,” a source in the alliance said.

That the urban battle holds special significance for the ruling party was evident from chief PCC spokesperson Haren Das’s observation on the eve of the polls. “We have taken the polls very seriously. We have around 70 per cent of the panchayats in our control. If we can retain our position in the urban areas (70 per cent control), it will help expedite development in the state. Our MLAs, present and former, ministers and PCC leaders have campaigned intensively to convey our commitment to development as voters are more conscious and will vote for the development we have done since 2003 polls.”

Senior AGP leader Hemanta Kalita was gung ho. “We will only improve our position in alliance with the BJP going by the trend in the parliamentary poll and the response we have received,” he said.

The AUDF has skipped the civic polls to concentrate on Assembly elections, its spokesperson Baharul Islam said. However, sources within it admitted that the nascent party was yet to make its presence felt in the urban areas.

State Election Commission sources said polling would be peaceful given the trouble-free run-up to the election. “We have asked for additional forces in Tezpur, Rangapara, Hailakandi, Karimganj, Gauripur, Bilasipara and Dhubri towns as a preventive measure as the competition is tight there,” one of them said.