AGP Back in BJP Lap, Brickbats

GUWAHATI: Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) faces fierce criticism for re-allying with BJP for the Lok Sabha elections in Assam. The AGP which broke ties with the saffron party in January this year on the controversial Citizenship Amendment Bill issue has decided to join hands with the BJP again for the Lok Sabha polls.

BJP general secretary Ram Madhav and other senior leaders of the state BJP met with the AGP leaders in Guwahati to finalise the deal.

Ram Madhav said that both decided to achieve their ‘common goal’ together, which is to defeat Congress.

But the decision has not gone well with the people of Assam. Even people inside the AGP have expressed their displeasure.

Already several leaders of AGP have stepped down after the development. Senior leader Lachit Bordoloi in a letter to party president Atul Bora on Wednesday said that he is resigning from the party. Another senior leader and party’s legal advisor Hemen Borah too has stepped down from the party.

“In the past the party had committed several mistakes but the people of Assam have embraced them again. But things seems to be going in the other way due to the poor leadership of the party which is reflected in the results of the last panchayat elections. The party has lost its way,” said Bordoloi who had joined the party in 2011.

Party’s legal advisor Hemen Borah said that he has already been away from the party and its activities for quite some time but after the alliance, he decided to formally get away from the party.

“I’ve been inactive with the party activities for some time. The party has lost it mind. When they decided to tie up with the BJP again, I thought it’s time I should formally resign,” said Borah.

Earlier, party spokesperson Dilip Borah and another leader Divas Phukan too had stepped down after they learnt the motive of Atul Bora and co to join hands with the BJP.

Some of the senior leaders including the founder president and former two-time chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta said that he was not even informed about the development.

“This kind of decision should have been taken in the general house meeting but no one has been informed that way. I’m completely in the dark about the whole episode,” said a shocked Mahanta.

All Assam Students’ Union (AASU), an influential students’ body too has slammed the regional party for joining hands with the BJP.

AASU chief advisor Samujjal Kumar Bhattacharya said that AGP must give an answer to the people of Assam.

“After breaking up with the BJP opposing the bill and now again joining hands with the same party which has clearly said that they will bring the bill back…this is something AGP must answer to the people. We have been saying that though the bill was not tabled in the Rajya Sabha, the dark clouds still hovering our skies,” Bhattacharya said.

Civil society groups too have slammed the AGP for its U turn for power and money.

Three AGP ministers including president Atul Bora on March 13 regained their ministerial positions.

Bora said that it’s the common goal to defeat the Congress. “We will speak in detail over the next two days,” says Bora.

Assam has 14 Lok Sabha seats and seven are with the BJP. They are hoping to increase their tally to at least 10 in these Lok Sabha polls.