NCP reaches eletion agreement with three parties

Guwahati, Feb 8 (UNI) The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Asom Gana Parishad (Progressive) (AGP-P), CPI(M) and Assam United Democratic Front (AUDF) have reached an agreement to field 90 common candidates for the 126 Assam Assembly for which elections will be held in two phases on April three and 10.

Addressing mediapersons here NCP leader and former speaker of the Parliament P A Sangma said NCP has reached a two-tier agreement with the AGP-P and CPM for 58 seats and with the AUDF for another 55 seats.

"We will have one common candidate in 90 seats, while the remaining 23 seats may see friendly contests. However, negotiations are still on and we are hopeful to bring down the number," he said.

Mr Sangma said although it is only an adjustment of seats among the four parties, the leaders will adhere to a common minimum guidelines while making election campaign.

Apart from that all the four parties will also have the right to make any adjustment with other Non-Congress and BJP parties from their allotted seats.

Out of the 113 seats we have decided to contest, one falls in Karbi Anglong and NC Hills, while two are in bodoland territorial autonomous district. Both seats will be contested by AGP-P and the party is negotiating with ASDC and BPPF on the three seats, the former Lok Sabha speaker said.

On the AUDF, he said, the party has already submitted a 35-candidates first list to the NCP, out of which NCP has no objection to 24. The remaining eleven may see friendly contest if the number could not be lowered.

Forcasting a hung assembly after the polls, he said front, coalition or alliance politics has become essential in view of such possibilities. He said the present tie-up although was not an alliance, the four parties might play an important role in forming the next government in the state.

UNI XC MT BA AKP1354