GUWAHATI: AGP president Atul Bora on Wednesday said though it is in alliance with BJP, the regional character of the party is not to be diluted and that the alliance is for the interest of Assam.
The statement came amidst murmurs that the party had lost its regional character and it was “completely under the control of the saffron party”.
“We are not underneath anyone, we are with them. AGP will continue its alliance with BJP and form the government. For Assam's all round development, the Centre’s goodwill and support are very much essential. AGP has adopted a practical approach in politics to serve the people of Assam,” the AGP president said.
“Senior BJP leader and home minister Amit Shah during his recent visit to Assam, openly said AGP and BJP will have an alliance in the forthcoming elections. We have also clearly said AGP will be the part of the alliance. The alliance is not for any personal interest, it is for the interest of the people of Assam,” Bora in a media interaction at the party headquarters here said.
He said the elections are very crucial for AGP and it was confident of doing well.
“The huge turnout at the party’s Jana Jagaran Sabha, which was held across the state, shows the popularity of the party and these meetings were the testimony of their support to us,” Bora said.
AGP and BJP had formed their alliance first before the 2001 assembly polls and again came together before the 2016 elections.
He said, “The roar of ‘Pragatisil Jatiyatabad’ resounds in the air of Assam. Overwhelming response to ‘Jatiya Oikya Samarohs’ have shown that AGP is still the flag-bearer of regionalism today.” AGP, which was formed to give a political shape to regionalism after the six-year anti-foreigner’s agitation that culminated with the signing of Assam Accord in 1985, is now getting a challenge from at least four regional parties this year, primarily because of the anti-CAA movement.