AGP president Atul Bora speaks during the convention in Guwahati

Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), one of the allies of the BJP government in Assam has decided to contest alone in the forthcoming panchayat elections in the state.

This was decided during the Panchayat Convention with the participation of the grassroots’ leaders in Guwahati on Friday. The convention was also attended by top leaders of the regional party.

“We have decided to contest alone. We believe our position at the grassroots is far better than the BJP. In many areas the BJP has failed to live up to the expectations in the last one year and more. So, for us it’s the opportunity to strengthen our roots,” said one senior leader of the party. The panchayat election is likely to be take place at the end of this year.

Party president Atul Bora said that they will continue to press for the issues which matter to the regional interest.

“We have always been saying that the interest of the people of the state has to be served. According to the Assam accord, the illegal migrants must have to leave irrespective of their religion and caste. We also demand that the issue of flood and erosion has to be declared as a national problem,” said Bora who is the agriculture minister of the current government.

In the current government AGP has two ministers. The other being Keshab Mahanata, who is in charge of water resources and science and technology portfolio.

They also said that even if the party is in the alliance with the government, they would never hesitate to raise voice for the local issues.

“It doesn’t matter even if we are with the government. We have been raised our voice in several issues and will continue doing this,” said Keshab Mahanta who is the working president of the party.

AGP founder president and former two-time chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta said that this is the high time for the people of the state to embrace regionalism.

Several district level leaders who have attended the convention have voiced their displeasure at the alliance and wanted to go alone.

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Avatar photo
About TNM NewsDesk

-

The News Mill is a Guwahati-based digital media with focus on content from across Northeast India and beyond. We can be reached through [email protected]