GUWAHATI: Former All Assam Students’ Union (Aasu) general secretary and the face of the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act movement in Assam,
Lurinjyoti Gogoi,
on Monday formally announced his decision to join the Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP).
He will be joining the party during its first convention to be held in upper Assam’s historic Sivasagar town on December 16 and 17. After serving the influential students’ body for five years, Gogoi quit as the general secretary during the Duliajan convention last month. AJP state coordinator Jagadish Bhuyan welcomed Gogoi's decision.
“Respecting the call of AJP workers, I announce my decision to join them during the upcoming Sivasagar convention. I am confident that in Assam, a new government will be formed under the leadership of regional forces in 2021. In the days to come, laying down a strong foundation of regionalism to resist the aggression of Delhi-based parties will be our main goal,” Gogoi said.
He added that time has come when regional parties will have to change the trend and not let national one dictate terms.
Gogoi advocated an alliance with Raijor Dal — the newly floated party of Akhil Gogoi-led Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti. Both AJP and Raijor Dal have taken an anti-BJP and anti-Congress stand, relying heavily on a united regional front to take on the big guns during the upcoming assembly polls.
“If regional parties do not understand the hidden motive behind the aggressive and communal agenda of national parties, they will face numerous difficulties in the long run. Division of votes will only help BJP, Congress, AGP and AIUDF at this hour. This will surely be detrimental for us,” he added.
Taking a dig at the regional allies of the BJP, he said the parties will eventually lose their own regional base. “If the regional units, which are currently taking the side of national parties, support them in the upcoming elections, their own foundation will be at stake soon. People of Assam have already realized this.”