BJP & AGP to finalize Sharing of seats in Delhi today: Himanta Biswa Sarma

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) and the AGP (Asom Gana Parishad) will finalize its strategy over sharing of seats for the State Assembly elections on March 3, said Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to media persons here on Tuesday.

He added that the final picture will evolve only after the slated meeting with BJP national president J.P. Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, top leaders are having a series of meetings in Guwahati since Monday.

On Tuesday as well, Minister Sarma met AGP president Atul Bora at the latter's residence here. Among the other AGP leaders present in this meeting were its working president Keshab Mahanta, Minister Phani Bhusan Choudhury, and Member of Parliament (MP) Birendra Prasad Baishya.

Giving a review of these meetings, Minister Sarma said, "As an alliance partner, the BJP will accord due respect to the AGP. The first-round of discussion on Monday was on all the issues with respect to sharing of seats. However, most of the major issues were resolved on Tuesday.

"Leaders of both the parties will leave for the final round of discussions with senior leaders of the BJP in New Delhi."

He also hinted that "the AGP will not be allotted less seats as compared to the last Assembly polls", adding that a few more constituencies will be offered to the AGP.

The AGP had contested in 28 seats in the 2016 polls.

MP Birendra Prasad Baishya (AGP) told the media, "Our prime objective is to defeat the alliance of Congress."

He added, "The AGP is seeking not just the 14 seats that we won in 2016 but also a few more constituencies primarily because the party has previous records of victories in these extra seats.

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