All Assam Students' Union to take final call on alternative party at its convention next month

GUWAHATI: At its two-day delegates' meeting which ended here on Friday, All Assam Students' Union (Aasu) stopped short of proposing the formation an alternative regional party on its own but called for a convention of all anti-CAA forces next month to take the final call. The students' body also resolved that it would step up the anti-CAA protest once the state board examinations are over.
"Once the examinations are all over by March 15, we will hold the convention to draw the roadmap for taking forward the anti-CAA movement forward. We have resolved to keep our protests disciplined and non-violent and we will explore all non-violent methods of Mahatma Gandhi," Aasu chief advisor Samujjal Bhattacharyya said.
Aasu president Dipanka Nath said, "Everyone is talking about an alternative party now. But we can't forget the past when many left Aasu and went on to betray the Assamese people. The final decision on whether an alternative party will be formed will be taken at the convention. We must not forget what is an alternative party today, might become mainstream tomorrow."
He added, "There is a need for an alternative leadership. But the actual need of the hour is leaders who will never compromise with Assam's interest or let the state down at any cost. We need people who can raise their voices against the forces in Delhi. The Centre is trying to impose things on us. They are imposing Acts or introducing new rules, which we do not need."
The anti-CAA force that rattled the ruling BJP in the state until last month seems to have disintegrated into at least three fragments, each drawing up its own plans to form a regional party of its own before the coming assembly election.
The idea of a regional party as an alternative to both Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and BJP was first mooted during an anti-CAA protest rally here in December, which was organized by popular singer Zubeen Garg and backed by Aasu.
Krishak Mukti Sangram Samity (KMSS) leader Akhil Gogoi, who has been booked by NIA under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act following his protests against CAA and is currently in judicial custody, is likely to form and lead a new regional force to take on BJP. Moreover, a few weeks ago, renowned filmmaker Jahnu Barua and eminent lawyer Arup Borbora set the ball rolling to mobilize anti-CAA forces to float a new political party.
Support for the alternative party has also come from Congress and AIUDF, who believe that an anti-CAA party would add teeth to the fight to defeat BJP. In fact, former CM and veteran Congress leader Tarun Gogoi believes that that an alternative political party has become a necessity to oust BJP.