Assembly elections results usher hope of revival of regionalism in Assam

Victory of regional parties in Mizoram & Telengana embolden AGP

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Thumping victory of regional parties in the assembly elections in Mizoram and Telengana has ushered the hope of revival of regionalism in Assam.

Soon after announcement of elections results of Mizoram and Telengana former Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta who led the historic Assam Movement told journalists here on Tuesday that rise and success of regional forces in the two States has indicated revival and relevance of regional politics in India. He accused the national parties like Congress and BJP of trying to throttle regional politics by dominating regional parties and disrupting their growth.

“Even in Mizoram the Congress and BJP tried hard to prevent regional forces to do well in the last assembly elections. I must congratulate Zoramthanga who braved all odds and led the Mizo National Front to thumping victory in Mizoram assembly polls,” Mahanta said.

Mahanta who is also the chief advisor of Asom Andolan Sangrami Mancha, said the elections results is a silver lining for all regional forces in the North East. He asserted that the AGP has every opportunity and scope to revive regional politics in Assam if the party works unitedly with its likeminded forces and organizations in the coming days.

Emphasizing the relevance of regional politics for the State like Assam Mahanta said the national parties do not understand and feel the pulses and sentiments of local people. “Leaders of national parties talk and promise big when they are on the ground in the State. But they forget everything once they catch their flights,” Mahanta quipped.

AGP president and Cabinet minister Atul Bora too reacted to elections results of Mizoram and Telengana by terming the development as auspicious sign for democracy as well regionalism. Regional parties have relevance in Indian democracy and they will be a decisive factor in the country’s politics in the coming days, he said.

Congratulating MNF leader Zoramthanga of Mizoram and TRS leader K. Chandrasekhar Rao of Telengana, Bora said the elections results would embolden and enthuse the AGP to revive regionalism in Assam.

On other hand Mahanta on Tuesday urged the MPs from Assam to be vocal and assertive in case the Centre tables the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 in the ongoing winter session of the Parliament to convert it into an Act. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi must keep his promise of implementing the Assam Accord by withdrawing the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 as the proposed legislation would violate the fundamental spirit of the historic Accord.

Also Read: Assembly elections 2018 results declared, Congress had the last smile