AGP to stay with BJP, focus on strengthening regionalism

GUWAHATI: Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) will continue the current partnership with BJP in the state but has stated that the party’s focus will always be to strengthen the regional force.
Party president Atul Bora said, “We have not said that we will come out of the alliance with BJP but we will always strive for strengthening regionalism. There have been so many attempts to wipe us out but we have survived.”
Former chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta too echoed the same sentiments about regional politics. “I believe that only a regional party can bring about development in the state and this work cannot be done any national party.”
Both leaders met here on Friday after a long time since they stood on opposite sides over the Citizenship (amendment) Act. While Bora, who is a minister in the state government stood by the government, Mahanta chose to oppose the Act.
Bora clarified on Friday, “Like any other party or organizations we too have differences of opinions but we don’t have any dissidence.” Mahanta added that Friday’s meeting was one of the many cordial meetings the party leaders have routinely.
The two AGP leaders’ strong words in favour of regionalism comes at a time when All Assam Students' Union (Aasu) and the Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) have advocated for formation of a new regional political party for safeguarding the interests of indigenous people.
On the other hand, AGP will also be holding its general conference here on August 27. It was scheduled to be held in December last year but was postponed amid the anti-CAA agitation in the state.
Party workers say that this general conference is very crucial ahead of the 2021 assembly election and because a new central executive body will be formed. The 2021 election will be a contest between alliances—AGP being on the ruling alliance side believes that a Congress-All India United Democratic Front alliance would not have any adverse impact on the regional party.