Re-elected AGP chief, Atul Bora says eyes set on 2021

By: Rokibuz Zaman
GUWAHATI: Atul Bora was re-elected as Asom Gana Parishad’s president during its general council meeting on Thursday, despite a local court stopping the meet saying it will violate Covid-19 norms of the state. The party, however, said they received the court’s order after the event got over.
On Wednesday, a local court here had restrained AGP from holding its eleventh general council meeting as it would violate the party’s constitution and Covid-19 protocols set by the government. The court had then directed that “status quo will be maintained till the next date and restrain themselves from holding Kendriya Sadharan Parishad meeting on Thursday.” The next date of hearing is on November 19.
Bora was re-elected as the party’s president unopposed for the second time for the next three years. Keshab Mahanta was also re-elected as the working president for the next term. Both are cabinet ministers in the BJP-led state government.
Bora told reporters that the party was working with an eye on next year’s state elections. He added that the relevance of regional parties has grown over time and that AGP will continue reflecting the aspirations of the people of the state.
“The people of Assam shall judge how have I fared till now. However, I am certain that the alchemy of old guard and new blood bringing together all caste, creed and communities of Assam shall take AGP to newer heights,” Bora said. Bora also rubbished allegations of dissidence in the party.
Elaborating on the court’s order, AGP general secretary Kamalakanta Kalita, in a official statement, claimed that the party has received the court notice after completion of the conference. “The entire proceeding of the conference was over by 11.45 AM whereas we received the court order at around 12.45 PM. However, to take up the matter in the court, we have appointed senior advocate Bijon Mahajan to look into the legal part of it,” the statement read.
The party workers are divided into two camps, one supporting former chief minister and founding president Prafulla Kumar Mahanta and the other with Bora. Mahanta, who reached the office almost at the end of the meeting, said the court order has made the conference invalid. “Only a regional party can truly work in favour of its people. I will continue to oppose CAA as it violates the Assam Accord and I can’t support anything which nullifies the Assam Accord,” Mahanta added. However, he did not comment on Bora’s re-election as the party’s president.