Guwahati, March 8: The AGP-BJP alliance for next month's Assembly elections today effected a split in the regional party with a group of leaders opposed to understanding with a national party (BJP) floating a new one here.
The new party, Asom Gana Parishad (Anchalikatabadi Mancha/Regional Forum) has two former education ministers - Thaneswar Boro and Bhaben Baruah - while the former president of its youth wing, Sunil Rajkonwar, has been named as its president.
Rajkonwar had resigned from the AGP on Sunday in protest against the party's alliance with BJP.
According to the AGP-BJP alliance announced on March 2, the AGP will field candidates in 26 constituencies while the BJP and its other ally, the BPF, will contest the rest of the seats.
Assam will witness two-phase polls for 126 seats on April 4 and 11.
"The AGP is the product of the six-year-long Assam Agitation which fought against foreigners living in Assam. A total of 855 people became martyrs during our fight. Now a section of leaders have decided to form an alliance with BJP, which neglects the foreigner problem. We can in no way join hands with the party (BJP) that is welcoming foreigners in the name of religion," vice-president of the new party, Bipul Das, said at a news conference here.
Das, who joined the AGP a few months ago, had actively participated in the Assam Agitation (1979-1985) and attended the function when the agitating leaders signed the historic Assam Accord with the government and subsequently formed the party.
Das was referring to the Narendra Modi government's notification in September that said non-Muslims who had migrated to India from Pakistan and Bangladesh till December 31, 2014 because of religious persecution would be allowed to stay without valid documents on humanitarian grounds.
Although both AGP and BJP leaders refused to give importance to the new party, sources in both the parties said it would impact the AGP's votes as they are planning to contest in all the 126 seats.
"Already 45 candidates have filed applications seeking tickets and we will contest in all the seats if the party workers want to. People supported the AGP because it is a secular regional force and fought for regional interests. But people will not tolerate them joining hands with the communal BJP," Rajkonwar said.
He had contested for the AGP in 2011 but lost to Congress' Jibantara Ghatowar.
The new party today announced its first list of candidates that included Bhaben Baruah (Chabua), Thaneswar Boro (Rangiya), Prasanna Rajkonwar (Mahmora), Puran Chetri (Margherita) and Bipul Das (Moran). It is likely to field candidates in Jonai, Dhemaji, Dhakuakhana, Bihpuria, Gohpur, Behali, Biswanath Chariali, Sootea, Rangapara, Borsola, Dhekiajuli, Dalgaon, Mangaldoi, Kolaigaon, Sipajhar, Borkhetri, Nalbari, Rangiya, Hajo, Guwahati (East), Sarbhog, Bhabanipur, Goalpara, Dudhnai, Bilasipara (East), Dispur, Jagiroad, Nagaon, Batadroba and Chabua.
By fielding its own candidates, the new party could, however, negate the very purpose behind the AGP-BJP alliance, which is to prevent division of votes and keep the Congress at bay.
The AGP has reason to rejoice as former chief adviser of Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuva Chatra Parishad, Dilip Patgiri, is likely to formally join the party tomorrow though he will not contest the polls. The AGP had last faced a similar split in 2005 when former two-time chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta formed AGP (Pragatisheel). This is the fourth time that the AGP has split in just over 30 years. The party had earlier split in 1991, 2000 and 2005 before all the factions got back together in 2008.
A group of BJP leaders who were denied party tickets have launched a new party, Trinamool BJP.
