GUWAHATI: All Assam Students’ Union (Aasu) is ready for a change in guard ahead of the 2021 assembly polls, with outgoing president Dipanka Kumar Nath and general secretary Lurinjyoti Gogoi about to quit the organisation to lead political campaigns against BJP.
Even as Aasu claims to be an “apolitical” organization, the Duliajan convention of the leading student body, scheduled to be held between November 18 and 21, will be of unprecedented importance. Though there is curiosity about the new people who will be elevated to the posts of central committee president and general secretary, all eyes are on Nath and Gogoi who are set to join anti-BJP fronts and are likely to contest the upcoming assembly polls.
According to Aasu insiders, Lurinjyoti Gogoi, a face of the anti-CAA movement, is ready to start a political journey with the newly floated regional party Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) that was formed at the initiative of Aasu and Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) a few months ago. However, there is much suspense on whether outgoing president Dipanka Nath will join AJP. “Even if he (Nath) does not join AJP, some other anti-BJP parties or organizations may manage to get his support. But he won’t join BJP for sure,” an Aasu insider said.
The Duliajan convention is also going to be important as Aasu’s chief adviser and one of its most prominent faces, Samujjal Bhattacharyya, has recently said that he will quit the organisation. Bhattacharyya has expressed willingness to bid adieu to Aasu at a time when differences surrounding formation of AJP have had an impact on the unity of the Aasu leadership.
Aasu central executive member Simanta Thakuria has resigned, accusing president Nath and general secretary Gogoi of dictating terms to AJP, violating the “apolitical” character of Aasu. But sources say that almost all district committees of Aasu will oppose Bhattacharyya’s decision to quit Aasu.
Among the frontrunners for the post of president are Pragyan Bhuyan from Biswanath district in northern Assam and Utpal Sarma from central Assam’s Morigaon district. For the post of general secretary, Uddip Jyoti Gogoi from Sivasagar and Sankar Jyoti Barua from Dibrugarh — both belong to the upper Assam belt — are the top contenders.
Altogether 5,000 Aasu delegates, representatives from the ethnic organizations and North East Student Organization (NESO) have been invited to the convention.
Speaking to TOI, outgoing Aasu general secretary Gogoi on Saturday said, “This time, the Aasu convention is going to be vital not only because of change in guard but the outgoing leaders are going to usher in a ray of hope for a political change. People of Assam are hopeful that the leaders, who are going to leave Aasu, will play an active role in politics immediately to thwart CAA and other anti-people policies of the ruling BJP.”
He, however, added that Aasu is committed to keeping intact its “apolitical” character and continue to lend its voice on the burning issues, without inclining towards any political party.