BJP, AGP out to upset each other's poll plans!

By our Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI, April 1: The BJP and the AGP are coalition partners who are ‘determined’ to go a long way. The irony, however, is that they have already started to upset each other’s plans in their lone efforts to perform well in the  panchayat polls slated to be held in the State in early 2018.
The distinctive border between the two coalition partners has been starker than before aver since State BJP president Ranjit Kumar Dass made it known that the Saffron party would go it alone in the panchayat poll. The statement made by Dass has its rippling effect in the AGP. The statement may also have its spillover effect in the Lok Sabha polls even as Dass had made it known that a coalition partner could be helpful only when it is strong enough, and to make both the parties stronger the two coalition partners should fight the panchayat poll on their own.
The statement of Dass has its impact on the AGP. AGP president Atul Bora has already entrusted senior party leader Phani Bhushan Choudhury to look after the preparations of the party to fight the panchayat poll. Bora, party’s working president Keshab Mahanta and Phani Bushan Chudhury have asked the leaders of the party to take of the mantle of certain party districts. The party leaders have been asked to interact with grass-roots-level workers of the party so as to strengthen its organization.
When two coalition partners go for a poll battle without any kind of understanding between them, without even seat-sharing, a tough fight is inevitable. They will be turally out to upset each other’s poll plans, and they have already started. While doing that they will have to keep it in their minds that they need to keep their coalition shielded from the ripple effects of the panchayat polls. What a delicate relationship!  
Things do not end with the results of the panchayat polls as the two coalition partners will have to stay together at least till 2019 when the Lok Sabha poll will be held. Apart from their performance in the panchayat polls, these two coalition partners are prone to develop some sore areas during electioneering in the panchayat polls. Such would-be sore points may also have their ripple effects in the Lok Sabha polls, posing a threat to the continuation of the partnership.
However, a year is too long a time for a party to change its poll strategy. If the AGP and BJP leaderships will change their panchayat strategy later or not is something to be watched at.
At present most of the panchayats in the State are held by the Congress. This essentially means that the Congress is a force to reckon with in so far as panchayat polls are concerned in the State.