Decision to join hands with BJP leaves AGP grassroots workers ‘confused’

A CORRESPONDENT8

LAKHIMPUR: With the last moment dramatic decision of presenting a united front during the upcoming general election by Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), there are mixed reactions among the grassroots level workers of both parties in Lakhimpur.

Though the leaders of the two parties finally decided to forge an alliance on Tuesday night in order to check the victory of Congress in the upcoming election, a section of grassroots-level workers of the AGP could not take the decision of the State committee easily. These workers and the supporters of the party, who are staunch supporters of regional politics, are now confused about the future of the regional party and the consequences of the sensitive issues of the State. Under these circumstances, they fear that if the regional party which came into existence in the backdrop of the anti-foreigners’ movement of the State, will lose its existence forever in the aggression of an ultra-centric party like BJP.

On the other hand, the workers of both parties are not sure how they will proceed together for poll campaign as the relation among the activists of AGP and the BJP had turned sour during panchayat polls due to bitter criticism by leaders of both parties in election campaign meetings. The relationship became more strained when the AGP started protesting against the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, which had compelled the regional party to break the alliance with the BJP. The BJP is still determined to grant citizenship to the Hindu foreigners by violating the Assam Accord.

In the mega youth convention organized by the Assam State committee of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, central president Amit Shah himself declared that the BJP would table the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in the Parliament again and turn it into Act if the party came to power in the Centre again, as it was its national agenda. The grassroots-level workers of the AGP are quite in the dark about the party’s stand regarding the issue. At this, a section of party workers called upon the AGP leaders to disclose the party’s stand regarding the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill as the sentiments of the people of the State were involved.

The existing AGP MLA of Lakhimpur LAC, Utpal Dutta, who is one of the general secretaries of AGP, also gave no reaction on the alliance. However, it is known that several dignitaries of Lakhimpur district AGP are aggrieved at this decision of the alliance, though they have not expressed their dissatisfaction publicly.

Also read: Assam news