AGP to go it alone in Assembly polls, rejects BJP tieup

In what may be a major setback for the BJP, the regional Asom Gana Parishad here on Wednesday rejected the idea of proposed alliance with the BJP after the strong opposition in its general council meeting.

AGP president Atul Bora, who had been holding informal parleys with the BJP leaders, announced that the general council of AGP had decided to go with its earlier resolution of contesting the forthcoming Assembly polls on its own. He, however, said the general council has authorised the central working committee of the party to explore the possibility of alliance with regional forces.

This announcement came when discussion on seat adjustment and alliance between AGP and BJP was at the advance stage. The Central leadership of AGP and Assam BJP were reported to have been finalising the seats that AGP has been asking.

If insiders in the AGP and BJP are to be believed, the AGP president, along with senior leaders, were confident to secure the approval of the party general council but failed.

According to sources, AGP stalwart and two-time chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta was also against the alliance with any national political party. The BJP leaders, who had been holding talks with AGP leaders for an alliance, were accused of trying to marginalise Mr Mahanta which also triggered strong opposition in the AGP. Though Mr Mahanta is not holding any post in the party, he still commands strong influence on the grassroots workers.

Earlier, expressing their anguish over the development, some of the district committees even proposed expulsions of such central committee leaders who have been advocated alliance with the Congress party. Pointing out that AGP workers wanted to sit in opposition, even with limited mandate, sources said most of the district committees were of view that party should focus on strengthening it instead of forging an alliance with BJP or Congress.