Bokajan, May 21: The All Assam Adivasi Students? Association (AAASA) has decided to float a non-political platform with co-operation of student groups from Adivasi-populated states like Jharkhand, Orissa, West Bengal and Chattisgarh with a view to give ?a national perspective to the long-pending demands of the tea tribes?.

A formal decision in this regard will be taken during the four-day seventh Adivasi Mahasabha, which started at Bokajan in Karbi Anglong district yesterday.

A host of leaders from across the country ? including Jharkhand chief minister Arjun Munda, Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio and AGP chief Brindaban Goswami ? will attend the concluding session on Monday.

The association vice-president Raphael Kujur said the conclave would also discuss other problems of the ethnic tribes besides the formation of the platform.

?The tea tribes will withdraw support to the Congress to answer its step-motherly attitude for five decades. During the sixth Guwahati Mahasabha last year, chief minister Tarun Gogoi had assured us that all the problems of the Adivasis would be resolved in just 10 days. But nothing happened,? Kujur said.

He said the AAASA would project Independent candidates and give them moral support in those Assembly seats where the Adivasis have influence.

?We are against forming any political platform and whatever we want to do, will be done under a non-political group,? he said.

The association has been carrying out a statewide mass agitation in support of its demands since January. The demands include granting Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to the Adivasis, rehabilitation packages to Kokrajhar riot victims, revival of the gardens under the Assam Tea Corporation (ATC) and the like.

Leaders of different groups under the North East Students? Organisation will take part in a special session in the conclave tomorrow. Jharkhand Adivasi Chah Sangha president Chamra Lindu and general secretary Bandu Tirki will be the chief guests in the evening session.