Two newly floated regional political parties – Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) and Raijor Dal – have decided to join hands ahead of the 2021 assembly elections in the state. Both the parties were formed after the state-wide anti-CAA movement.
AJP president Lurinjyoti Gogoi who met jailed anti-CAA leader Akhil Gogoi who is the head of Raijor Dal announced about the development on February 4.
“We don’t want to waste the regional votes. To ensure that, we have decided to join hands and contest the elections together. We will make the formal announcements soon,” Lurinjyoti told reporters.
“National political parties and the communal parties will be against us. There is no way that we will be with them (national parties). We want to unite the regional forces,” the AJP leader added.
Will contest in all 126 seats: AJP
Lurinjyoti, the former general secretary of influential All Assam Students Union (AASU) said that they will contest in all the 126 seats. He, however, stayed away from making any comments who will be their chief ministerial candidate.
Lurinjyoti also appealed the government to release Akhil Gogoi who has been jailed since December 2019.
“He took part in a public movement. It was not against the nation. So, he is not anti-national. Akhil Gogoi should be released at the earliest,” Lurinjyoti added.
The elections in Assam are likely to take place in April/ May. Congress is already in an understanding with AIUDF while BJP will go with their ally Asom Gana Parishad.
