On the guest list: Farooq Abdullah (left) and Chandrababu Naidu

Guwahati, Sept. 20: The Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) is trying to rope in the satraps of the country?s regional politics to grace its ?birthday bash? so as to keep its own regional flag flying high.

AGP leaders are of the view that the presence of the icons of the country?s regional politics at a public rally to mark 20 years of its existence would severely dent the breakaway AGP (Progressive)?s attempt to project itself as the flag-bearer of regionalism in the state.

It has planned a public rally in Guwahati on October 24 as part of its 20th foundation day celebrations. The party had earlier planned the rally on October 14 ? the day the AGP was formed in Golaghat in 1985.

But it has been postponed as the date coincides with the Durga Puja celebrations.

?On October 14, we will organise a function in every district. But the main function, to be organised centrally, will be held along with a public rally either at Judges Field or Sonaram Field on October 24,? AGP vice-president Ramendra Narayan Kalita said.

The party has entrusted its two MPs ? Arun Sarma and Sarbananda Sonowal ? to fix the date with National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah, Telugu Desam Party chief Chandrababu Naidu and Akali Dal leader Prakash Singh Badal.

The AGP (P), led by former chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, has been claiming to be the real AGP, and said its leader had a ?pan-national? image.

AGP (P) leaders, during their two-day political convention here recently, emphasised how Mahanta has been regarded ?one of the tallest? exponents of regionalism in the country, in a clear indication that its leader?s national image was the party?s USP.

Sources in the AGP said the presence of the regional leaders from across the country at its rally would not only add glamour to it but would send a political message in the state as to which was the real regional political force.

The party will also hold parleys with the left parties, the Trinamool Gana Parishad, the Holiram Terang faction of the Autonomous State Demand Committee (ASDC) in Karbi Anglong, the Bodo People?s Progressive Front (BPPF) and the United Minority Front (UMF) to cobble together a third front.