Advani ropes in AGP, small fish
BY OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
GUWAHATI
Sept. 29: In what may help in polarising the anti-Congress forces before the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections in Assam, BJP prime ministerial candidate L.K. Advani on Monday succeeded in giving the final touch to the proposed electoral alliance with the main Opposition Asom Gana Parishad and other smaller political parties in the state.
The decision came following a meeting between Mr Advani and a delegation of the AGP headed by its president Chandra Mohan Patowary.
This has also come close on the heels of a proposed merger of the AGP (Pragatisheel) headed by former chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, Trinamul Gana Parishad (TGP) and the Prabin Deka faction of the Purbanchaliya Loka Parishad (PLP), with the AGP, which is scheduled to take place on October 14, the foundation day of the AGP. Mr Advani met the Rabiram faction of the Bodoland Progressive Peoples Front and former chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta. Most of the leaders who met Mr Advani have made it clear that they are ready to join hands with BJP in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.
The Assam BJP leaders said that the BJP has been trying to include the AGP into its fold, which has consolidated itself by bringing together all its factions.
AGP president Chndra Mohan Patowary said, "We will have to work together to oust the Congress and UPA from power."
He said: "We met Mr Advani and sought his assurance in complete implementation of the Assam accord if voted to power. We wanted his assurance on the flood protection work, insurgency and schedule tribe status for six tribal groups. He assured that it would be taken up on priority basis if voted to power."
Mr Patowary also clarified that there were some minor issues to be sorted out but the seat-sharing deal had largely been agreed upon.
Both the BJP and the AGP have decided to contest in six Lok Sabha seats each, leaving four seats for other tribal and regional parties. Both the parties feel that a united front would make a serious dent into the Congress stronghold. The Congress has nine while the BJP and the AGP have two seats in the LS from Assam.