File picture of AASU president Prabin Boro (centre) along with the organisation?s general secretary Amiya Bhuyan (left) and adviser Samujjal Bhattacharyya

Dibrugarh, Nov. 30: The perennial debate over what should be the maximum age of a student leader is expected to dominate the next general conclave of the influential All Assam Students? Union (AASU).

Sources said several ?ageing? functionaries of the organisation would be under the scanner during the meeting, to be held in the Upper Assam town of Moran in January.

Over the past few years, there has been an unceasing debate and controversy regarding the maximum age of a central executive member and other AASU office-bearers.

When the subject came up for discussion during the 1999 Barpeta conclave of the region?s most powerful students? union, a resolution was adopted to debar anybody who is married from the central executive committee.

?In the light of this resolution, at least nine of the present central executive members, including president Probin Boro, will have to make an exit,? a central executive member said.

Boro is not the only senior AASU leader who is married. The list includes Bikul Deka, Nabin Deka, Ratul Borgohain, Ranjit Gogoi, Bhupen Bhuyan, Bijoy Sarmah, Bipul Saikia and Basanta Saikia. Several of them are fathers.

The central executive committee of the AASU has 48 members. Apart from a president and a general secretary, it has three vice-presidents, three assistant general secretaries and secretaries to manage the literary, financial, cultural and sports activities.

Organisational secretary Tapan Gogoi is tipped to be the next general secretary, while Sankar Prasad Roy, one of the present vice-presidents, is being talked of as Boro?s successor.

The AASU has been a major force since its inception, even spearheading the momentous anti-foreigner agitation that culminated in the Assam Accord of 1985. The leaders of that time, including Prafulla Kumar Mahanta and Bhrigu Kumar Phukan, went on to float the Asom Gana Parishad and replace the Congress at the helm.

The AASU?s Moran session was postponed on quite a few occasions because of various reasons. Sources in the organisation confirmed that the conclave would finally be held from January 28 to 31.

A jumbo reception committee with 20-odd sub-committees is working overtime to ensure that the general conclave is held without a hitch. ?We have a total budget of about Rs 20 lakh and will ensure that the session is a success,? said Tapan Gogoi, the general secretary of the reception committee.

The AASU had planned to launch an agitation over incomplete implementation of the 1985 accord just before Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visited the state. The organisation even threatened to disrupt the Indo-Asean car rally, which Singh flagged off in Guwahati on November 22.

The AASU leadership called off the agitation after an assurance from chief minister Tarun Gogoi that tripartite discussions on the implementation of the accord would be held soon.