Differences in BJP-AGP alliance

Differences have started surfacing in the ruling BJP-AGP alliance with former chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta objecting to the decision-making procedure of the Centre without proper consultation with the alliance partners at the state level.

While the present issue that Mr Mahanta referred to was about the decision of the Petroleum ministry to auction at least 12 small and marginal oil and gas fields in Assam, his camp in the AGP is not happy with the way he has been marginalised in the decision-making process.

Mr Mahanta told reporters on Tuesday, “We came to know about the decision of the Petroleum ministry to auction 12 oil and gas fields from newspapers. The decision is against the spirit of the Assam Accord and I would like to request the Central government to put a hold on the bidding process.”

In the House of 126, BJP has 60 MLAs, AGP 14 and BPF 12.

Apart from Opposition Congress protesting the decision of auctioning the oil fields, farmers’ organisation Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti and the All Assam Students Union (Aasu) has also opposed the move. Even the Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) has asked the government to reconsider the decision.

Bidding for these oil and gas fields is supposed to start next month. The decision of the Petroleum and Natural Gas ministry, to go for open bidding of 67 small and marginal oil and gas fields, included 12 fields in Assam.

Mr Mahanta said, “My party has already convened an executive committee meeting on July 3 to take a decision on this, but being a signatory of the Assam Accord, I am not happy with such unilateral decisions.” He reminded that oil fields and foreigners’ problems had been an emotive issue in Assam.