AGP Softens Stand For A Poll Alliance With BJP; Final Decision Soon

GUWAHATI: The BJP central leadership will take the final decision on forging an alliance with the AGP to contest the ensuing Lok Sabha elections within a day or two with the regional party has started showing a positive inclination to fight the poll battle together.

The AGP who came out from the BJP-led alliance government in Assam in protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019 in December last year, was undecided on forging an alliance with the saffron party for the upcoming Parliamentary elections. But there has been a rethinking in the AGP camp for a possible alliance with the BJP with the sole intention of defeating the Congress and keep the anti-Congress votes intact. Sources told The Sentinel that the BJP which has already offered Barpeta and Kaliabor seats to the AGP to field its candidates in the ensuing elections, will take the final decision on the possible alliance after having a threadbare discussion with Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and other national leaders of the BJP in charge of North East. The final decision is expected at the earliest.

Sources said the BJP is also keen on having an alliance with the AGP in view of the Rajya Sabha elections for seats in Assam scheduled to be held this year. Without having an alliance with the AGP the ruling BJP will not be able to win both the Rajya Sabha seats. The AGP is also interested to field one of its senior leaders for one Rajya Sabha seat. AGP president Atul Bora said the party is having in-depth deliberations and trying to work out the party’s strategies to fight the upcoming elections successfully. He said the party took feedbacks from the grassroot workers during a meeting held in Barpeta on Thursday.

Senior AGP leader and MLA Ramendra Narayan Kalita said the Congress is their arch enemy and there cannot be any question or circumstance to forge an alliance with such national party.

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