New Delhi, Dec. 3: The BJP is toying with the idea of coalition in Assam but it might have to compete for allies as its erstwhile partner AGP is planning a third front and the ruling Congress a " mahabujabuji" (larger understanding).
The BJP's election management committee for Assam yesterday discussed an alliance for next year's Assembly polls but as no agreement could be arrived at, the participants left the decision to BJP national president Amit Shah.
The party's national spokesperson for the Northeast, Siddhartha Bhattacharya, today said they had told Shah about the discussion on alliance at the meeting and had left it to party seniors to take a decision.
Sports minister and the party's Assam unit president Sarbananda Sonowal had chaired the meeting that lasted late into the night here. It was attended by election organiser Himanta Biswa Sarma and MP Bijoya Chakravarty, among others, and also discussed issues like media relations, finances and an overall strategy for campaigning in Assam.
The BJP had hoped that anti-incumbency against the three-time Congress government in Assam and last year's "Modi wave" that catapulted seven of its MPs from Assam to the Lok Sabha would go in its favour in the Assembly polls next year.
But shocked by the defeat in Bihar and disappointed with the party's performance in Gujarat rural elections, the BJP is concerned about its prospects in Assam.
Party leaders concede that the defeat in Bihar has impacted prospects in Assam also.
BJP functionaries on the ground feel it would be difficult to attain the magic number required to muster a majority. Hence, a section of the leadership feels that only a coalition could help the BJP form the government in Assam.
The alliance scenario in Assam is tricky.
The AGP has decided not to tie up with either of the national parties as it is considering a coalition of regional parties. "We will not go with either the BJP or the Congress as we are discussing with other regional parties as well as parties like the CPI and the CPI (M-L) the formation of a front," AGP leader Prafulla Kumar Mahanta told The Telegraph over phone from Guwahati today.
He said nothing was finalised and discussions regarding sharing of seats were on.
A BJP leader here, however, said, "It is not just about the AGP. We will be looking at smaller but influential parties in the Bodo, Rabha and Mising-majority areas."
The All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), led by Badruddin Ajmal, is a rising force that has a following in the Muslim-majority areas, especially in lower Assam.
Ajmal had, however, ruled out any truck with the BJP or the Congress after Gogoi called for a " mahabujabuji" among all non-BJP parties in Assam during the 2016 Assembly elections.
Gogoi's call came after the Bihar Assembly poll results, which he termed as a rejection of "divisive, communal and pro-corporate" policies of the BJP. He said while there would be no pre-poll alliance or seat-sharing between the Congress and other non-BJP forces, there was a need for "adjustment" among them.
The BJP is also looking at its high cards which could give it a headway like the progress in Ulfa (pro-talks) and measures by the Centre for granting Scheduled Tribe status to six communities in Assam.
As for steps taken by the BJP-led government at the Centre that created a furore in Assam, like issuing a notification allowing Hindus from Bangladesh to stay on without travel documents, the BJP is trying to defend the action. "The historical mistakes of the past have to be corrected and for the BJP nation is above politics," said Bhattacharya.
