Guwahati, March 6 : The Opposition AGP today put its poll preparations on the fast track by convening a meeting of its steering committee tomorrow. It will discuss the seat-sharing deal with the BJP announced in New Delhi today and shortlist candidates for the two-phase Lok Sabha elections in the state next month.
Arrest the 7 tainted ministers: AGP
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Talking to newsmen here today, AGP president Chandra Mohan Patowary said the party will raise the demand for the arrest of the seven Assam ministers in Parliament during the coming Budget session. “We will take help of other anti-Congress national parties to ensure resignation of the Congress-BPF Government in Assam,” he added.
Patowary said: “We have been maintaining over the years that the Congress government in the State has links with extremists but the government hushed it up successfully. The RK Manisana Singh Commission also made mention of politician-militant nexus in NC Hills but the Gogoi Government didn’t pay any heed to it, thereby giving a protective shield to his corrupt Cabinet colleagues. The NIA, however, unearthed the truth.”
Patowary said when the AGP had brought it to the notice of the State Government that the prime accused of Dhemaji blast had got a SIM card from a close relative of a Congress minister, Gogoi overlooked the matter. “The report that the State Government didn’t permit the NIA to interrogate the seven ministers has proved it beyond doubt that Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi made an attempt to prevent the NIA from exposing the misdeeds of his Cabinet colleagues,” Patowary said, and added: “If Gogoi is honest enough to hold such a high post, he should exhibit transparency in dealing with The Week revelation.”
Patowary further said that the AGP would move the Prime Minister and request him to ask the NIA to issue a supplementary charge-sheet including the names of the seven ministers also in it.
In a separate press meet, AIUDF president Badruddin Ajmal demanded a CBI inquiry as to why the names of the seven ministers that were in the NIA report went missing in the NIA charge-sheet. “It is certain that there was political pressure, and that needs to be probed by the CBI,” Ajmal said, and added that the Gogoi government should step down immediately.
While Assam CPI secretary Bhogeswar Dutta said the seven ministers should be removed from the Cabinet immediately, State BJP spokesman Kulendu Daulagopu said the corrupt practices of the Congress had been exposed.
AGP likely to dump BJP ahead of 2011 Assam polls
By Syed Zarir Hussain
Guwahati, Nov 14 Assam politics is expected to witness some major realignment of forces ahead of the 2011 assembly polls with the honeymoon between the main opposition Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) almost over.
“The time has come to take a strong call on the continuance of the tie-up with the BJP. Successive electoral defeats have shattered the confidence of the party workers and supporters… The thinking of the party should change ahead of the 2011 assembly elections,” AGP vice president Apurba Kumar Bhattacharyya told IANS.
Meanwhile, the Asom United Democratic Front (AUDF), a minority-based party that has emerged as the third major opposition in Assam, has sent feelers to the AGP.
“There is a big possibility of my party aligning with the AGP as the two parties have similar regional aspirations. I would say the chances are very bright,” Badruddin Ajmal, leader of the AUDF, told IANS.
The AUDF managed to win 11 assembly seats in the 2006 state elections. The AGP has 24 legislators in the 126-member house.
The AGP was quick to react to the AUDF’s feelers, saying nothing was impossible in politics.
“We have heard the AUDF’s comments and will discuss the issue. We are talking to parties at an informal level and anything can happen,” AGP president Chandra Mohan Patowary told journalists.
The AGP suffered successive electoral reverses beginning with the 2001 assembly polls. The party also lost the 2006 assembly elections, then the local council elections, the April-May parliamentary polls this year, and the humiliating defeat in the two by-elections earlier this week.
The AGP and BJP fought the April-May parliamentary elections together under a seat sharing arrangement. The regional party fared poorly - it won just one of the 14 Lok Sabha seats, down by one compared to the 2004 general elections.
“The opposition parties must take a lesson from the past elections and hence the need to unite to challenge the Congress party,” said Dhrupad Borgohain, a former MP belonging to the Communist Party of India.
The AUDF has however made it clear that it would team up with the AGP provided the BJP is out of the combination.
“Minus the BJP and the Congress, we are ready for any kind of alliance,” Ajmal said.
Amid the political rumblings, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said the Congress party was all set for a hat-trick by winning the 2011 polls.
“The AGP is down and out and there is no way the party can bounce back. The AUDF and the BJP are parties with communal overtones, and the people of Assam are going to reject them,” Gogoi told IANS.
“There could be a realignment of forces, but we are not worried.”
Guwahati, Nov 14 Assam politics is expected to witness some major realignment of forces ahead of the 2011 assembly polls with the honeymoon between the main opposition Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) almost over.
“The time has come to take a strong call on the continuance of the tie-up with the BJP. Successive electoral defeats have shattered the confidence of the party workers and supporters… The thinking of the party should change ahead of the 2011 assembly elections,” AGP vice president Apurba Kumar Bhattacharyya told IANS.
Meanwhile, the Asom United Democratic Front (AUDF), a minority-based party that has emerged as the third major opposition in Assam, has sent feelers to the AGP.
“There is a big possibility of my party aligning with the AGP as the two parties have similar regional aspirations. I would say the chances are very bright,” Badruddin Ajmal, leader of the AUDF, told IANS.
The AUDF managed to win 11 assembly seats in the 2006 state elections. The AGP has 24 legislators in the 126-member house.
The AGP was quick to react to the AUDF’s feelers, saying nothing was impossible in politics.
“We have heard the AUDF’s comments and will discuss the issue. We are talking to parties at an informal level and anything can happen,” AGP president Chandra Mohan Patowary told journalists.
The AGP suffered successive electoral reverses beginning with the 2001 assembly polls. The party also lost the 2006 assembly elections, then the local council elections, the April-May parliamentary polls this year, and the humiliating defeat in the two by-elections earlier this week.
The AGP and BJP fought the April-May parliamentary elections together under a seat sharing arrangement. The regional party fared poorly - it won just one of the 14 Lok Sabha seats, down by one compared to the 2004 general elections.
“The opposition parties must take a lesson from the past elections and hence the need to unite to challenge the Congress party,” said Dhrupad Borgohain, a former MP belonging to the Communist Party of India.
The AUDF has however made it clear that it would team up with the AGP provided the BJP is out of the combination.
“Minus the BJP and the Congress, we are ready for any kind of alliance,” Ajmal said.
Amid the political rumblings, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said the Congress party was all set for a hat-trick by winning the 2011 polls.
“The AGP is down and out and there is no way the party can bounce back. The AUDF and the BJP are parties with communal overtones, and the people of Assam are going to reject them,” Gogoi told IANS.
“There could be a realignment of forces, but we are not worried.”
Poll arithmetic - new pastime of Assam politicians
Guwahati, May 7 : For politicians in Assam, it is now time to hone their arithmetic skills as leaders are busying themselves in trying to calculate the number of votes they have got in the recently concluded parliamentary polls.“We analysed in detail and made some calculations and are confident of winning four to five of the six seats we contested,” a senior leader of the main opposition Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) said.
The AGP and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had a pre-poll seat sharing agreement - the BJP fielded candidates in eight of the 14 seats and the AGP contested in six seats.
“The AGP-BJP combine has the potential to get more than nine seats,” senior BJP leader Charan Deka said.
Similar calculations are being made by the ruling Congress party.
“We expect to win more seats than in the 2004 polls,” Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said.
The Congress won nine seats in the 2004 elections, while an independent candidate later supported the ruling party. But analysts say poll arithmetic by political parties based on feedbacks from their own supporters would fail to give a clear picture.
“It is some sort of an entertainment for political parties. Their supporters are involved in an exercise that is unlikely to be a reality,” said Akhil Ranjan Dutta, a teacher at Gauhati University and coordinator for the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS), one of India’s best-known independent research institutes.
“Unless the exercise is carried out in a scientific manner, such poll arithmetic is bound to go wrong,” said Manoranjan Goswami, a noted political columnist.
But politicians are in no mood to give up.
“We are sure of our calculations and you can see that on May 16,” the BJP leader said.
Experts are, however, not expecting any major surprise when results are announced next week.
“I don’t think there would be any major surprises, a few seats here and there - one or two seats down for the Congress or a couple might go in favour of the AGP-BJP alliance and nothing beyond that,” Dutta said.
AGP announces its candidates for Lok Sabha polls
Guwahati, Mar 9 : The sitting MPs of Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) Sarbananda Sonowal and Dr Arun Kumar Sarma were among the names of six nominees of Assam's main opposition party announced on Monday for the Lok Sabha polls.
Besides Sonowal from Dibrugarh and Sarma from Lakhimpur, the others were Joseph Toppo in Tezpur, Bhupen Ray in Barpeta, Gunin Hazarika in Koliabor and Sabda Rabha in Kokrajhar.
AGP president Chandra Mohan Patowary told reporters that its seat sharing understanding with the BJP was to defeat the Congress to form the next central government under the leadership of the saffron party.
"The AGP is not a partner of NDA and has not forged an alliance with the BJP. It is only a seat-sharing understanding to defeat the Congress unitedly.
"We told BJP that NDA has to form government in Delhi with the BJP playing the big brother's role, while in the Assam assembly polls, we will play the big brother's role," Patowary said.
Admitting that the AGP-BJP alliance in 2001 in the state was not successful as it was not at the grass-root level, he said, "this time it is at the grass-root level and the process of vote transfer has already started. The people of Assam this time will give a fitting reply to the Congress."
Patowary said the 2001 alliance did not work out as the AGP had split twice which worked to the advantage of Congress, which won.
Accusing the Congress here and Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi of making 'cheap remarks against the AGP for its understanding with the BJP', he said, "if the AGP dies or our alliance dies, then what is their loss?"
He asked why the Congress, which claimed to be secular, had an alliance with the Indian Union Kerala Muslim League.
"I challenge the Congress to form the government in Delhi and here without the support of regional parties. The Congress after holding on to Mayawati shifted to Mulayam Singh for survival. The 120-year-old party has lost its propriety and it is unfortunate for democracy,"he said.
AGP-BJP alliance will not affect us: Congress
Guwahati, Mar 7 : The Congress on Friday said the alliance between opposition parties Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and BJP will not affect its poll prospects.
"The hyped AGP-BJP alliance is not at all going to affect the prospects of the Congress which has remained as the most popular party in the State," State party president Bhubaneswar Kalita said.
People were aware of the "misdeeds" of the two parties when they were in power and also the development that took place during the two subsequent Congress governments in the state, Mr. Kalita told reporters.
"The people know that only the Congress is capable to bring back the state to the path of development and so the AGP-BJP alliance will in fact help the ruling party," he said.
Kalita denied there was any rift within the party over candidates' selection and said that by March 15 the list of nominees will be announced.
AGP fast tracks poll drill
| Steering committee to finalise candidates today | ||
The ruling Congress will also hold a two-day conference of the party’s grassroots leaders from Saturday. The conference will lay emphasis on showcasing the UPA’s achievements and tackling the “unholy alliance” of the BJP and the AGP for the Lok Sabha elections. Three of Assam’s 14 seats will go to the hustings on April 16 and the remaining 11 on April 23. In the outgoing Lok Sabha, the AGP and the BJP have two seats each while the Congress has nine. One seat is being held by an Independent. AGP spokesperson Apurba Bhattacharjee said the steering committee would finalise nominations for the six seats, where the AGP will field candidates, tomorrow evening and find out ways to get the best deal out of its seat-sharing deal. “Now that the key issue of seat sharing has been sorted out, the party leadership will finalise the candidates and draw a blueprint on how to maximise the gains. The seat sharing was done on basis of the winnability of the parties in the said constituencies. We are very confident of doing well. There is no question of selling out to the BJP,” he said. BJP spokesperson Charan Deka also sounded bullish on the seat-sharing deal. “It is very important for the AGP and the BJP to work together to save Assam and India from the Congress,” he added. Despite the leaders’ optimism, many feel that conceding the prestigious Guwahati seat to the BJP by the state’s main Opposition party could help the ruling Congress expose the AGP’s lack of confidence. AGP insiders said the candidates have already been decided and tomorrow’s meeting is a mere formality. According to them, barring last-minute changes, sitting MPs Sarbananda Sonowal (Dibrugarh), Arun Sarma (Lakhimpur), Joseph Toppo (Tezpur), Gunin Hazarika (Kaliabor), Bhupen Ray (Barpeta) and Sabdha Rabha (Kokrajhar) are sure to be fielded. Congress spokesperson Rajesh Joshi said the party’s two day-conference at Sarusajai would mark the formal launch of the party’s poll campaign and would be attended by the AICC in-charge of the state unit, Veerappa Moily. “We are confident of doing well and see no threat from the unholy BJP-AGP alliance,” he added. The Congress’s optimism is based on the assumption that the seat-sharing by the Opposition could polarise the voters along religious lines with the minority backing the ruling party despite threats from the AUDF, whose talks with the CPM on seat-sharing has come to no avail. | ||
To save alliances, parties gag leaders in Assam
Guwahati, Feb 20 : Major political parties in Assam have issued an unwritten 'gag order' forcing its members not to speak to the media in a bid to save the emerging alliances.
Already all the three major coalitions in Assam, namely BJP-AGP, Congress-BPF and Third Front, have been affected by barrage of statements coming from the middle and junior party functionaries, making seat adjustment a very difficult task.
''There is no official gag order, but it is better to speak in one voice and there are officially appointed spokespersons who will speak on any matter related to the party to the media,'' AGP president Chandra Mohan Patowary said.
The AGP has been the worst-hit as their alliance with the BJP was in danger of being jeopardised following verbal shootout by the mid-ranking leaders, which has been capitalised by the rival Congress.
As the alliance was almost in danger of falling out, senior BJP leader Bijoya Chakravarty had to resurrect it by holding a press conference especially to clear the misgivings.
''A section of the media has been used by the Congress to spread false inputs about other parties to create confusion,'' she said, while her party also issued gag order as the aspirants were crowding to get tickets.
Last night, as more than 120 BJP members applied for 14 Lok Sabha tickets, not one was allowed to speak to the media as the BJP made it clear that all statements would be given by their official spokesperson Harendra Pratap, at least till the tickets were distributed.
The Congress was also equally troubled as Bodo leaders and the Congress middle level leaders were harping different tunes, forcing the party state leadership to stop all of them from speaking to the media.
The Third Front leaders were however, firing almost like a loose cannon as everybody was taking a different stance, causing the rift between the CPI(M) and Assam United Democratic Front (AUDF) to widen further. The Third Front is constituted of the CPI, CPI(M), AUDF, SP and NCP.
As both the AUDF and CPI(M) are fighting hard for the Silchar seat, AUDF chief Badaruddin Ajmal also became cautious and was allowing only the spokesperson of the front to speak to the media.
''I shall not open my mouth now. Only the spokesperson of the Third Front will say anything, otherwise I shall be misinterpreted,'' he said.
All the three alliances are now entering the crucial phase of picking up their 14 candidates for the Assam Lok Sabha seats and the simmering tension is about to spill out once the names are announced.
--- UNI
Already all the three major coalitions in Assam, namely BJP-AGP, Congress-BPF and Third Front, have been affected by barrage of statements coming from the middle and junior party functionaries, making seat adjustment a very difficult task.
''There is no official gag order, but it is better to speak in one voice and there are officially appointed spokespersons who will speak on any matter related to the party to the media,'' AGP president Chandra Mohan Patowary said.
The AGP has been the worst-hit as their alliance with the BJP was in danger of being jeopardised following verbal shootout by the mid-ranking leaders, which has been capitalised by the rival Congress.
As the alliance was almost in danger of falling out, senior BJP leader Bijoya Chakravarty had to resurrect it by holding a press conference especially to clear the misgivings.
''A section of the media has been used by the Congress to spread false inputs about other parties to create confusion,'' she said, while her party also issued gag order as the aspirants were crowding to get tickets.
Last night, as more than 120 BJP members applied for 14 Lok Sabha tickets, not one was allowed to speak to the media as the BJP made it clear that all statements would be given by their official spokesperson Harendra Pratap, at least till the tickets were distributed.
The Congress was also equally troubled as Bodo leaders and the Congress middle level leaders were harping different tunes, forcing the party state leadership to stop all of them from speaking to the media.
The Third Front leaders were however, firing almost like a loose cannon as everybody was taking a different stance, causing the rift between the CPI(M) and Assam United Democratic Front (AUDF) to widen further. The Third Front is constituted of the CPI, CPI(M), AUDF, SP and NCP.
As both the AUDF and CPI(M) are fighting hard for the Silchar seat, AUDF chief Badaruddin Ajmal also became cautious and was allowing only the spokesperson of the front to speak to the media.
''I shall not open my mouth now. Only the spokesperson of the Third Front will say anything, otherwise I shall be misinterpreted,'' he said.
All the three alliances are now entering the crucial phase of picking up their 14 candidates for the Assam Lok Sabha seats and the simmering tension is about to spill out once the names are announced.
--- UNI
AGP denies BJP Guwahati
Guwahati, Feb 13 : The AGP has decided against giving away the prestigious Guwahati parliamentary seat to the BJP, following stiff resistance from its local unit.
The Guwahati district unit of the AGP is adamant not to leave the seat to the BJP and decided to recommend the name of the West Guwahati legislator Ramendra Narayan Kalita for the seat.
Kalita’s name has been propped up after the AGP leadership changed its earlier decision not to give tickets to any sitting legislator.
The party has also started shortlisting candidates for the constituencies where it is likely to contest.
Making a departure from its stand, the AGP has now decided to nominate Dhekiajuli legislator Joseph Toppo to contest from the Tezpur seat, encouraging the Guwahati unit to bid for Kalita.
“There is no justification for the BJP to claim the seat. In all the assembly constituencies as well as the panchayats that fall under the Guwahati parliamentary seat, our party’s performance is much better than BJP,” said an AGP leader from the Guwahati district unit.
The BJP has been staking its claim for the seat on the basis of better performance than the AGP in the last few parliamentary elections. Its candidate Bhupen Hazarika had finished second while the AGP’s Biren Baishya was in third place in the 2004 Lok Sabha elections.
In the preceding election, BJP leader Bijoya Chakraborty, who is again seeking the party nomination from the seat, emerged victorious. The AGP, however, did not see any rationale in the BJP’s argument. It claimed that since the last two parliamentary elections, the political equation in Guwahati has changed and this was reflected in the last Assembly and panchayat elections.
An 11-member committee formed by the AGP to shortlist the candidates, too, is in favour of Kalita’s candidature. The committee is meeting on February 14 with the parliamentary committees to finalise its list of candidates, which would be then forwarded to the steering committee, which is the highest policy-making body of the AGP, for the final decision.
Apart from Kalita from Guwahati, the other names, the committee “unofficially” received from the respective parliamentary committees are Bhupen Roy from Barpeta, Gunin Hazarika from Koliabor, Joseph Toppo from Tezpur and Sabdha Rabha from Kokrajhar, sources said.
But the AGP is still in talks for an alliance with the Rabiram Narzary-led BPPF. If the deal is struck, the party would leave the Kokrajhar seat to the BPPF.
The party has already named the candidatures of Sarbananda Sonowal from Dibrugarh and Arun Sarma from Lakhimpur. It has decided to leave Jorhat, Nagaon, Dhubri, Mangaldai, Silchar and Karimganj for BJP. It will leave Diphu seat to the ASDC.
Assam politicians use ULFA issue during polls, says pro-talk ULFA leader
Guwahati, Feb 10 : The leader of a pro-talk faction of the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) on Tuesday accused politicians of hobnobbing with the outfit and alleged that political parties in Assam have been using the insurgency issue to its advantage in all elections since 1991.
“Since the 1991 elections, political parties have used the ULFA issue either negatively or positively for political gains. In fact, no party could afford to do without the ULFA and the people of Assam know that,” president of the pro-talk ULFA group Mrinal Hazarika told IANS.
Two of ULFA's potent striking units, the Alpha and Charlie companies of the 28th battalion led by Hazarika, announced a unilateral ceasefire last June.
“There were politicians who had connections with the ULFA and used the ULFA issue to whip up emotions. There is no need to elaborate on this,” Hazarika said.
The pro-talk ULFA group has formally given up its demand for sovereignty or independence and is instead harping on the theme of granting greater autonomy to Assam.
“It is very unlikely that Paresh Baruah (ULFA commander-in-chief belonging to the anti-talk faction) would come for talks with the government. He is a person with a very adamant stand and would rather die then giving up the struggle midway,” Hazarika said.
The rebel leader said that despite External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee's visit to Dhaka and the pressure on Bangladesh to crack down on northeastern militant bases in the neighbouring country, nothing much would happen.
“Beyond a point, the Bangladesh government would not take any harsh action against northeast militants due to domestic compulsions,” Hazarika said.
“It is true there are many ULFA leaders and cadres in Bangladesh,” he added.
Hazarika also came down heavily on Assam's main opposition Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) for allegedly masterminding the infamous "secret killings".
Around a dozen close relatives of ULFA guerrillas were killed across the state between 1996 and 2001 when Prafulla Kumar Mahanta was heading the AGP government.
The "secret killings", as they came to be known, became a major issue during the assembly polls in 2001 in which the Congress led by Tarun Gogoi returned to power, defeating the AGP.
“Everybody knows that the AGP under Mahanta used the state machinery for the secret killings and they also lost the elections on this issue in 2001,” Hazarika said.
Voices of dissent over AGP-BJP seat sharing
Guwahati, Feb 7 : Voices of dissent are coming thick and fast even as top leaders of the Assam's main opposition Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) publicly maintain that the seat-sharing agreement between the two parties to fight the parliamentary elections is smooth.
There is a bitter tug-of-war going on between the AGP and BJP for at least two parliamentary seats with both parties keen to field candidates.
The prestigious Guwahati and Tezpur Lok Sabha seats are the main bone of contention because of which the parties were unable to formally declare the seat-sharing pact.
“We have decided to propose the name of our party legislator Joseph Toppo to fight the Tezpur seat,” senior AGP leader Padma Hazarika said.
But AGP's stand on claiming the Tezpur seat has not gone down well among BJP leaders and workers at the grassroots level.
“Our party has not decided to leave the Tezpur seat and so it is a little unfair for the AGP to announce their candidate. We also have able candidates to contest from Tezpur,” said Abhijit Hazarika, BJP leader from Tezpur.
Same is the case with the Guwahati seat with murmurs of dissent coming to the fore.
In all likelihood, the AGP would give up Guwahati to the BJP after the saffron party leadership in New Delhi pressurised the regional allies to make way for their candidates to contest the prestigious seat.
“Yes I am willing to contest from Guwahati,” said Bijoya Chakaraborty, BJP national vice president and former central minister who won the seat in the 1999 general elections.
Although it is almost certain that the Guwahati seat is going to the BJP, a section of AGP leaders are putting up resistance, trying to convince the leadership not to give up claim on Guwahati.
“The AGP has five MLAs in the Guwahati Lok Sabha constituency and our performance in the last panchayat elections was also good. We have a fair chance of winning Guwahati,” a senior AGP leader said.
There are also disconcerting voices in other seats where the two parties have already decided who would contest.
The Dibrugrah seat would be contested by the sitting MP of the AGP Sarbananda Sonowal.
But when it came to holding a joint AGP-BJP election meeting in Dibrugarh, most of the local BJP leaders were conspicuous by their absence.
“There should not be any problems and both the parties would work together,” AGP president Chandra Mohan Patowary said, trying to put up a brave front.
In the 2001 assembly elections, the AGP-BJP alliance was humiliated by the ruling Congress after which both the parties blamed each other for the electoral rout.
Bijoya hits out at CM
GUWAHATI, Feb 5 Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Tuesday came under scathing attack from BJP national vice president Bijoya Chakravorty for his remarks in connection to the poll understanding between BJP and the AGP. It needs to be mentioned here that Tarun Gogoi had stated in a press meet yesterday that the AGP had lost its regional character by joining hands with a national party.
Addressing mediapersons here, Chakravorty termed the remarks of the Chief Minister as 'very cheap' and hit out at him for making comments without any realization of the politics of the country.
Chakravorty said that alliance politics was favoured in the country since long back and that in many States the governments were running under such agreement.
"Gogoi has failed to see that he is living in a glass house," Chakravorty could not resist taking a dig at the Chief Minister calling upon him to have a better understanding of the current political scenario of the country. She said that the Congress party has come into understanding with regional parties in several States and even ruling in certain States with support of regional party.
"It is unfortunate that Gogoi does not know that the Congress is ruling with support of regional party in some States," regretted Chakravorty.
The senior leader also described Gogoi as a fear struck Chief Minister who was behaving in a desperate way following the erosion in the support base of the Congress.
"The Tea community is going away from the Congress, the AUDF has wooed away the minority voters, and now Gogoi is in a desperate situation," said Chakravorty.
Chakravorty further said that the inefficient Tarun Gogoi government had failed in every front right to detection and expulsion of foreigners.
Chakravorty also mentioned that secret killings have not stopped in the State and that it is a Congress method to create fear psychosis.
Referring to the former State Election Commissioner CK Sarma's bid to get a Congress ticket to contest the coming parliamentary elections, Chakravorty said that this reflected how the Commission has been actually running. "It shows that the Commission is dictated by the Congress and people are now suspicious whether the assembly and the panchayat elections were conducted in an impartial manner by the Commission," she said.
Addressing mediapersons here, Chakravorty termed the remarks of the Chief Minister as 'very cheap' and hit out at him for making comments without any realization of the politics of the country.
Chakravorty said that alliance politics was favoured in the country since long back and that in many States the governments were running under such agreement.
"Gogoi has failed to see that he is living in a glass house," Chakravorty could not resist taking a dig at the Chief Minister calling upon him to have a better understanding of the current political scenario of the country. She said that the Congress party has come into understanding with regional parties in several States and even ruling in certain States with support of regional party.
"It is unfortunate that Gogoi does not know that the Congress is ruling with support of regional party in some States," regretted Chakravorty.
The senior leader also described Gogoi as a fear struck Chief Minister who was behaving in a desperate way following the erosion in the support base of the Congress.
"The Tea community is going away from the Congress, the AUDF has wooed away the minority voters, and now Gogoi is in a desperate situation," said Chakravorty.
Chakravorty further said that the inefficient Tarun Gogoi government had failed in every front right to detection and expulsion of foreigners.
Chakravorty also mentioned that secret killings have not stopped in the State and that it is a Congress method to create fear psychosis.
Referring to the former State Election Commissioner CK Sarma's bid to get a Congress ticket to contest the coming parliamentary elections, Chakravorty said that this reflected how the Commission has been actually running. "It shows that the Commission is dictated by the Congress and people are now suspicious whether the assembly and the panchayat elections were conducted in an impartial manner by the Commission," she said.
AGP opposes use of EVMs
NEW DELHI, Feb 4 : Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) reiterating its opposition to the use of Electronic Voting Machine (EVM), urged the Election Commission (EC) to keep out local officials from the examination process of the machine. Participating in the discussion convened by the EC, the AGP, which was represented by former Union Minister, Biren Baishya and Dr Kamala Kalita raised a host of issues ranging from EVMs to restricted use of helicopters.
Several regional parties from the North Eastern Region (NER), including Mizo National Front (MNF), Nagaland's People Front (NPF), Asom United Democratic Front (AUDF) among others, participated in the meeting called to take the views of the national-and state parties ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.
At the meeting, AGP MPs conveyed that the Regional Party nursed deep suspicion over the use of the EVMs, as there were series of allegations against misuse of these machines in the State. "We have apprehension that the elections using EVMs would not be free and fair," Baishya told this newspaper after the meeting.
Urging the EC to discuss the issue seriously, Baishya communicated that AGP was totally against use the services of the local officials during the examination process of the EVMs.
AGP's deep-seated apprehension over the neutrality of the local officials was further reflected, when Baishya opposed a Congress Party-sponsored proposal to allow presence of only poll officials in polling stations, which had space problem.
Alleging that there were lots of instances in Assam, where poll officials have misused their power, Baishya cited the case of C.K.Sarma, without naming him to buttress his argument. The official, who was the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of the State, had misused his power during the election of the local bodies including panchayat polls, he alleged.
Subsequently, he has resigned from his post and has now formally joined the Congress Party, added Baishya.
On the misuse of the EVMs, AGP found support of the Trinamool Congress and Jayalalitha led AIADMK, both of which expressed their apprehension about the possibility of rigging by the ruling party.
The AGP also insisted that the illegal migrants should not be allowed to vote and their names should be struck off the rolls. The indication of the Party was to the 'D' category voters in the State.
The AGP also wanted polls before the Bihu festival and onset of the Monsoon season.
Meanwhile, the regional party, which has been purportedly reeling under huge financial crisis, fear that the ruling Congress might steal a march over them by making rampant use of helicopters during campaigning.
Baishya said they have requested the EC to put a limit on the use of the helicopters and air services. Unlimited use of these is against the spirit of democracy, he contended.
In the last election, the Samajvadi Party and Telegu Desam Party bailed out AGP, which was part of the defunct UNPA. The Regional Party was 'lent' couple of copters and executive jets by SP general secretary, Amar Singh and the resourceful N Chandra Babu Naidu.
Several regional parties from the North Eastern Region (NER), including Mizo National Front (MNF), Nagaland's People Front (NPF), Asom United Democratic Front (AUDF) among others, participated in the meeting called to take the views of the national-and state parties ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.
At the meeting, AGP MPs conveyed that the Regional Party nursed deep suspicion over the use of the EVMs, as there were series of allegations against misuse of these machines in the State. "We have apprehension that the elections using EVMs would not be free and fair," Baishya told this newspaper after the meeting.
Urging the EC to discuss the issue seriously, Baishya communicated that AGP was totally against use the services of the local officials during the examination process of the EVMs.
AGP's deep-seated apprehension over the neutrality of the local officials was further reflected, when Baishya opposed a Congress Party-sponsored proposal to allow presence of only poll officials in polling stations, which had space problem.
Alleging that there were lots of instances in Assam, where poll officials have misused their power, Baishya cited the case of C.K.Sarma, without naming him to buttress his argument. The official, who was the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of the State, had misused his power during the election of the local bodies including panchayat polls, he alleged.
Subsequently, he has resigned from his post and has now formally joined the Congress Party, added Baishya.
On the misuse of the EVMs, AGP found support of the Trinamool Congress and Jayalalitha led AIADMK, both of which expressed their apprehension about the possibility of rigging by the ruling party.
The AGP also insisted that the illegal migrants should not be allowed to vote and their names should be struck off the rolls. The indication of the Party was to the 'D' category voters in the State.
The AGP also wanted polls before the Bihu festival and onset of the Monsoon season.
Meanwhile, the regional party, which has been purportedly reeling under huge financial crisis, fear that the ruling Congress might steal a march over them by making rampant use of helicopters during campaigning.
Baishya said they have requested the EC to put a limit on the use of the helicopters and air services. Unlimited use of these is against the spirit of democracy, he contended.
In the last election, the Samajvadi Party and Telegu Desam Party bailed out AGP, which was part of the defunct UNPA. The Regional Party was 'lent' couple of copters and executive jets by SP general secretary, Amar Singh and the resourceful N Chandra Babu Naidu.
BJP to contest in 7 seats in Assam, AGP in 6; one undecided
New Delhi, Feb 3: BJP has finalised its seat-sharing pact with Asom Gana Parishad for 13 Lok Sabha constituencies in Assam with the saffron party agreeing to field candidates in seven seats.
"The AGP has reached an agreement with the BJP on 13 Lok Sabha constituencies out of 14 in Assam. Accordingly, the AGP will fight in six constituencies while the BJP in seven," AGP general secretary and Rajya Sabha member Birendra Prasad Baishya told PTI.
The agreement was finalised at a meeting between the top BJP leadership, led by President Rajnath Singh, and AGP, headed by its President Chandra Mohan Patowary.
However, the parties have failed to reached a consensus on the prestigious Guwahati seat with both AGP and BJP claiming stake on it.
"We will meet again in the first week of February to take a final call on Guwahati seat," Baishya said.
The BJP will field candidates in Nagaon, Mangaldoi, Silchar, Karimganj, Jorhat, Dhubri and Diphu constituencies while the regional party will contest in Dibrugarh, Lakhimpur, Tezpur, Kaliabor, Barpeta and Kokrajhar seats.
Out of the 14 Lok Sabha seats from Assam in the House, both BJP and AGP have two members each. Congress has nine MPs and one seat is held by an independent. PTI
"The AGP has reached an agreement with the BJP on 13 Lok Sabha constituencies out of 14 in Assam. Accordingly, the AGP will fight in six constituencies while the BJP in seven," AGP general secretary and Rajya Sabha member Birendra Prasad Baishya told PTI.
The agreement was finalised at a meeting between the top BJP leadership, led by President Rajnath Singh, and AGP, headed by its President Chandra Mohan Patowary.
However, the parties have failed to reached a consensus on the prestigious Guwahati seat with both AGP and BJP claiming stake on it.
"We will meet again in the first week of February to take a final call on Guwahati seat," Baishya said.
The BJP will field candidates in Nagaon, Mangaldoi, Silchar, Karimganj, Jorhat, Dhubri and Diphu constituencies while the regional party will contest in Dibrugarh, Lakhimpur, Tezpur, Kaliabor, Barpeta and Kokrajhar seats.
Out of the 14 Lok Sabha seats from Assam in the House, both BJP and AGP have two members each. Congress has nine MPs and one seat is held by an independent. PTI
AGP’s Muslim MLA in Assam alleged to have ISI links
Guwahati, Jan 18 : The Opposition Asom Gana Parishad on Wednesday removed one of its general secretaries, who is an MLA, for his alleged links with Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence.
This came to light when Assam health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said during a debate in the Assam Assembly that AGP general secretary Nurul Hussain had met some jailed ISI undertrials with the court’s permission.
Mr Hussain admitted he had gone to meet the undertrials, who were from his constituency.
The AGP served a showcause notice to Mr Hussain, fearing the issue might snowball into a major controversy before the Lok Sabha poll as the party had taken a pro-BJP line and was already in the final stage of seat-sharing discussions.
“The party decided on Mr Hussain’s removal after it was not satisfied with his clarification,” said AGP spokesman Apurba Bhattacharya. He was removed as general secretary as well as from the party’s steering and executive committees.
The Congress minister told reporters: “The AGP should stop criticising us that the Congress is weak with the ISI as their own general secretary had met them inside the jail.”
The AGP had criticised the Congress and charged it with being soft towards ISI undertrials, saying that they managed to get bail as the Assam police had failed to file proper chargesheets.
The AGP has also formed a three-member committee, comprising Dr Kamala Kalita, Pabindra Deka and Sahidul Alam Choudhury, to further investigate the MLA’s alleged ISI connections and to submit a report on this to party president Chandra Mohan Patowary. Dr Kalita is the committee’s convenor.
This came to light when Assam health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said during a debate in the Assam Assembly that AGP general secretary Nurul Hussain had met some jailed ISI undertrials with the court’s permission.
Mr Hussain admitted he had gone to meet the undertrials, who were from his constituency.
The AGP served a showcause notice to Mr Hussain, fearing the issue might snowball into a major controversy before the Lok Sabha poll as the party had taken a pro-BJP line and was already in the final stage of seat-sharing discussions.
“The party decided on Mr Hussain’s removal after it was not satisfied with his clarification,” said AGP spokesman Apurba Bhattacharya. He was removed as general secretary as well as from the party’s steering and executive committees.
The Congress minister told reporters: “The AGP should stop criticising us that the Congress is weak with the ISI as their own general secretary had met them inside the jail.”
The AGP had criticised the Congress and charged it with being soft towards ISI undertrials, saying that they managed to get bail as the Assam police had failed to file proper chargesheets.
The AGP has also formed a three-member committee, comprising Dr Kamala Kalita, Pabindra Deka and Sahidul Alam Choudhury, to further investigate the MLA’s alleged ISI connections and to submit a report on this to party president Chandra Mohan Patowary. Dr Kalita is the committee’s convenor.
AGP terms Bangla merchant of terror
GUWAHATI, Jan 7 Bangladesh has emerged today as a merchant of terror, said Leader of the Opposition Chandra Mohan Patowary while taking part in the debate on the Governor's address on the floor of the State Assembly here today. Patowary said, referring to a write-up by Wilson John (www.dailypioneer.com), that the neighbouring country, which was once regarded as a major source of economic refugees, had now become a hotbed of terrorism.
Referring to a set of research papers presented at an international conference on terrorism, democracy and economic development in Bangladesh held on September 30, 2006 in New York, he said that terrorist incidents or attacks were highest in South Asia, Bangladesh being a big contributor, followed by the Middle East and Persian Gulf region since 9/11.
Empirically, the terrorist incidents increased by 800 per cent in South Asia and 560 per cent in the Middle East since 9/11. While terror incidents increased by 7,800 per cent in Bangladesh and 800 per cent in South Asia, in sharp contrast, such incidents in Western Europe declined by five per cent and increased only by 4.9 per cent in North America during the same period, Patowary said quoting a paper presented by Dr Abdul Momen, a professor of economics and management at the Framingham State College, Massachusetts.
Dr Abdul Momen supplied a list of the major terrorist groups operating in the neighbouring country. For the purpose he took the help of the list prepared by the US intelligence agencies such as CIA, FBI, Homeland Security, Defense Intelligence, National Counter-terrorism (NATC), US State Department etc.
These agencies listed the terrorist groups of Bangladesh as: Islamic Shashantantra Andolon, Hikmarul Zihad, Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS), Harkat ul-I-Islami/Bangladesh (HUJI-B), Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangladesh (JMJB), United People's Democratic Front (UPDF) People's Liberation Army (PLA), Jamat-ul-Mujahedin Bangladesh (JMB), Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity(PCJSS), United National Liberation Front (UNLF) Achik National Volunteer Council (ANVC), Borok National Council of Tripura (BNCT), National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT), All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF), Purbo Banglar Communist Party (PBCP) and al-Qaedea-Bangladesh, said the Leader of the Opposition, quoting Dr Abdul Momen.
Patowary quoted the above papers to suggest the gravity of the terrorism-related situation in Assam and its neighbourhood. The major problem facing the State today is insurgency. Without resolving this problem, the State cannot implement its developmental projects effectively.
He resented the fact that though the world community condemned the October 30 terror attacks on Assam, Governor of the State did not condemn the incidents in his address.
The Union Home Minister also failed to condemn those incidents in his speech made on the floor of the Parliament. Only the pressure mounted by a section of the State's MPs made the Union Home minister mention those incidents.
But in the case of Mumbai, Central Government missed no time in mounting pressure on the Pakistani Government. The Mumbai attack was considered an attack on India. Even the attackers were identified within seven days. But in the case of Assam blasts, the State Government is maintaining a confusing stance. It is also asserting that a third force was involved on the October 30 incidents, even as the Union Home Minister described the incidents as deeds of the Jehadis, Patowary said.
Referring to the US Army Training and Doctrine Command TRADOC G2, Patowary said that the present trends in terrorism are intensified ideological extremism, enhanced operational capabilities, flexible organisational networks, expanded transitional associations, emergent independent actors, increased weapon system lethality, intended mass casualties- that is, mayhem, targeted economic disruption and exploited mass media marketing. The terrorists today have weapons like the gas-operated assault weapon AK-74 in their possession.
Today the cumulative number of persons killed in the incidents of terror attack in the country is two times higher than the total number of those killed in the four wars the country had waged against Pakistan and China during the past 60 years, said the Leader of the Opposition.
But to face this situation, the State Police is not equipped properly. It's tips to the people against terror attacks are also ludicrous. The Police Departments of Maharashtra, Goa and Himachal Pradesh are far ahead of the Assam Police in this matter, he said displaying the relevant documents and reading out the relevant paragraphs from those documents.
He alleged that the State Government was not sincere in resolving the issue of insurgency or there was no comprehensible reason as to why the Government failed to push ahead the peace process initiated for the purpose.
The failure of the Home Department today has come to such a pass that fratricidal clashes are taking place within the Bodo community. Most of the victims of last year's Udalguri and Darrang ethnic riots are unwilling to leave the camps they are taking shelter in these days, said Patowary.
Referring to a set of research papers presented at an international conference on terrorism, democracy and economic development in Bangladesh held on September 30, 2006 in New York, he said that terrorist incidents or attacks were highest in South Asia, Bangladesh being a big contributor, followed by the Middle East and Persian Gulf region since 9/11.
Empirically, the terrorist incidents increased by 800 per cent in South Asia and 560 per cent in the Middle East since 9/11. While terror incidents increased by 7,800 per cent in Bangladesh and 800 per cent in South Asia, in sharp contrast, such incidents in Western Europe declined by five per cent and increased only by 4.9 per cent in North America during the same period, Patowary said quoting a paper presented by Dr Abdul Momen, a professor of economics and management at the Framingham State College, Massachusetts.
Dr Abdul Momen supplied a list of the major terrorist groups operating in the neighbouring country. For the purpose he took the help of the list prepared by the US intelligence agencies such as CIA, FBI, Homeland Security, Defense Intelligence, National Counter-terrorism (NATC), US State Department etc.
These agencies listed the terrorist groups of Bangladesh as: Islamic Shashantantra Andolon, Hikmarul Zihad, Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS), Harkat ul-I-Islami/Bangladesh (HUJI-B), Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangladesh (JMJB), United People's Democratic Front (UPDF) People's Liberation Army (PLA), Jamat-ul-Mujahedin Bangladesh (JMB), Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity(PCJSS), United National Liberation Front (UNLF) Achik National Volunteer Council (ANVC), Borok National Council of Tripura (BNCT), National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT), All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF), Purbo Banglar Communist Party (PBCP) and al-Qaedea-Bangladesh, said the Leader of the Opposition, quoting Dr Abdul Momen.
Patowary quoted the above papers to suggest the gravity of the terrorism-related situation in Assam and its neighbourhood. The major problem facing the State today is insurgency. Without resolving this problem, the State cannot implement its developmental projects effectively.
He resented the fact that though the world community condemned the October 30 terror attacks on Assam, Governor of the State did not condemn the incidents in his address.
The Union Home Minister also failed to condemn those incidents in his speech made on the floor of the Parliament. Only the pressure mounted by a section of the State's MPs made the Union Home minister mention those incidents.
But in the case of Mumbai, Central Government missed no time in mounting pressure on the Pakistani Government. The Mumbai attack was considered an attack on India. Even the attackers were identified within seven days. But in the case of Assam blasts, the State Government is maintaining a confusing stance. It is also asserting that a third force was involved on the October 30 incidents, even as the Union Home Minister described the incidents as deeds of the Jehadis, Patowary said.
Referring to the US Army Training and Doctrine Command TRADOC G2, Patowary said that the present trends in terrorism are intensified ideological extremism, enhanced operational capabilities, flexible organisational networks, expanded transitional associations, emergent independent actors, increased weapon system lethality, intended mass casualties- that is, mayhem, targeted economic disruption and exploited mass media marketing. The terrorists today have weapons like the gas-operated assault weapon AK-74 in their possession.
Today the cumulative number of persons killed in the incidents of terror attack in the country is two times higher than the total number of those killed in the four wars the country had waged against Pakistan and China during the past 60 years, said the Leader of the Opposition.
But to face this situation, the State Police is not equipped properly. It's tips to the people against terror attacks are also ludicrous. The Police Departments of Maharashtra, Goa and Himachal Pradesh are far ahead of the Assam Police in this matter, he said displaying the relevant documents and reading out the relevant paragraphs from those documents.
He alleged that the State Government was not sincere in resolving the issue of insurgency or there was no comprehensible reason as to why the Government failed to push ahead the peace process initiated for the purpose.
The failure of the Home Department today has come to such a pass that fratricidal clashes are taking place within the Bodo community. Most of the victims of last year's Udalguri and Darrang ethnic riots are unwilling to leave the camps they are taking shelter in these days, said Patowary.
Opposition fires salvo
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| Prafulla Kumar Mahanta (left) with AGP president Chandra Mohan Patowary in the Assembly on Monday. Picture by Eastern Projections |
Guwahati, Jan 7 : The Opposition today not only questioned the Assam government’s ability to tackle terror, citing the two serial blasts in the state within two months, but also accused it of trying to keep the insurgency issue alive.
Leader of the Opposition and AGP president Chandra Mohan Patowary made the two issues the cornerstone of his argument while participating in the debate on the motion of thanks on the governor’s address on the second day of the six-day winter session. He started after Congress legislator Bhupen Bora set off the proceedings with a spirited defence of the speech.
Armed with figures and reports dealing with terror downloaded from the Internet, the Opposition leader articulated the concerns of the “people at large” about why the government has not been able to identify the third force behind the blasts even after two months. He cited the example of the Mumbai terror attacks where the perpetrators have not only been identified but the Centre is virtually ready to go to war with Pakistan.
Along with Dispur, he also came down on the Centre for not highlighting the Assam blasts in Parliament. “It was taken up only when four of our MPs protested the matter. What does this prove? Are we in the mainstream or not?” Patowary asked.
Though he did not specify the source of terror in the Assembly, it was clear from the tone and spirit of his contention that the government has to strongly take up the matter with Bangladesh.
The Opposition leader was also scathing in criticising the senior bureaucrats for not being present in the officers’ gallery during the debate.
In response, Speaker Tanka Bahadur Rai said he would bring the absence to the notice of the chief secretary, who is in Delhi along with the chief minister and DGP, to attend the meeting on internal security.
The Assembly also discussed the border dispute with Arunachal Pradesh.
Assam Opposition attacks governor’s speech
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| Legislators at the opening session of the Assembly on Monday. Picture by Eastern Projections |
Guwahati, Jan 6 : Of his 46-page address, Assam Governor Shiv Charan Mathur barely managed to read three paragraphs in the Assembly today after the Opposition found that the speech did not articulate the true picture of the state.
Mathur had reached only the second para when members of the Opposition began raising uncomfortable questions about the two serial blasts and the Udalguri riots.
Some of the AGP and BJP members also displayed placards seeking resignation of the government amid attempts by the governor to complete his speech.
With the Opposition in no mood to relent, Mathur read out the last para, which allows it to be deemed as read by the Assembly.
Chandra Mohan Patowary, leader of the Opposition, said the speech was not a true reflection of the ground reality and was, instead, trying to glorify a failed government.
The governor’s address, which started with the law and order situation, apparently conveyed anguish over the blasts and the riots and spoke about a multi-pronged strategy to deal with militant groups.
Sustained operations against the recalcitrant groups and peace overtures to those willing for a negotiated settlement formed the core of the strategy.
“The unilateral ceasefire by the A and C companies of Ulfa’s 28 battalion in June is significant and indicative of a desire for peaceful settlement on part of large sections of the militants,” the governor said.
He said the strategy would also include improving the functioning of the police, constitution of a specialised body on the lines of the National Security Guards, setting up of a research and analysis wing and installation of CCTVs in Guwahati and other major towns.
The Opposition found the arguments untrue.
“There is no semblance of law and order in the state. Tarun Gogoi should resign as the Centre has virtually taken over the law and order situation. Home minister P. Chidambaram himself has said that the chief minister should concentrate on development and that security forces should tackle law and order problems,” Patowary said.
The Gogoi government should now seek a fresh mandate, he said.
The BJP said it would oppose the speech during the debate on the motion of thanks on the governor’s address.
For a third front in Assam, AUDF turns Left
New Delhi, Dec 30 : Having shelved its plans to have a tie-up with the Asom Gana Parishad (AFP) after it made clear its intention to go with the BJP, the Assam United Democratic Front (AUDF) which has a strong presence among Muslims in the state is now knocking the doors of the Left for a possible electoral alliance.
AUDF president Badruddin Ajmal is in the Capital and he is planning to meet CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat to discuss the possibilities of an alliance. The idea is to cobble up a third front in Assam against the Congress and the AGP-BJP combine, sources said.
Scouting for prospective allies, Ajmal has already met SP general secretary Amar Singh and is learnt to have clinched a deal with him for an electoral adjustment.
The AUDF's overture to the Left comes at a time when the red brigade is exploring all options to stitch up a third alternative. The Left has already roped in the TDP in Andhra Pradesh, the AIADMK in Tamil Nadu and the JD(S) in Karnataka and is hoping to bring in the BSP in Uttar Pradesh. Talking to The Indian Express, Ajmal said the AUDF has decided to field its candidates in nine Lok Sabha seats and for the rest five seats it is planning to hold discussions with the NCP, the CPI(M), the CPI and other secular parties.
AUDF president Badruddin Ajmal is in the Capital and he is planning to meet CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat to discuss the possibilities of an alliance. The idea is to cobble up a third front in Assam against the Congress and the AGP-BJP combine, sources said.
Scouting for prospective allies, Ajmal has already met SP general secretary Amar Singh and is learnt to have clinched a deal with him for an electoral adjustment.
The AUDF's overture to the Left comes at a time when the red brigade is exploring all options to stitch up a third alternative. The Left has already roped in the TDP in Andhra Pradesh, the AIADMK in Tamil Nadu and the JD(S) in Karnataka and is hoping to bring in the BSP in Uttar Pradesh. Talking to The Indian Express, Ajmal said the AUDF has decided to field its candidates in nine Lok Sabha seats and for the rest five seats it is planning to hold discussions with the NCP, the CPI(M), the CPI and other secular parties.
CPI(M) offers olive branch to AGP
Guwahati, Dec 15 : In a bid to strengthen anti-Congress forces, the CPI(M) on Sunday said it was ready for an alliance with the opposition Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) in Assam, provided the party severed links with the BJP.
Addressing an Adivasi rally at the Assam Engineering College ground here, CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat said there was a need for unity among anti-Congress forces with an orientation towards development.
"This (alliance) is possible only when the AGP severs ties with BJP," Karat said.
Describing AGP's rapport with the BJP as "dangerous," the comrade alleged that the ruling Congress had totally failed to improve the condition of the poor.
CPI(M) politburo member and Left Front chairman Biman Bose told the rally that growing terrorism in Assam was a result of the presence of "foreign reactionary forces, who are linked to local terrorist groups".
Commenting on the situation in Midnapore district of West Bengal where tribals were on an agitation, Basu alleged that the Maoist forces and the Trinamool Congress were inciting them. Triblas were arrested over the November 2 land mine attack on a cavalcade of West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and two union ministers, which the VIPs escaped unhurt.
"The West Bengal Government has done a lot to improve the plight of the tribals but the agitation is due to certain misconceptions," he said.
