Coalition government in Asom gets new name

Guwahati, Jun 26 (UNI) The month-old coalition government in Asom was today christened as the Congress-BPPF United Front government.

The name was suggested by Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi in a meeting with BPPF(H) leaders Hagrama Mohilary and Chandan Brahma, convened by the latter to decide on a name for the Congress-led government.

The new name would require the nod of the state Cabinet before it could be formally adopted.

The Bodo People's Progressive Front (Hagrama) (BPPF-H) was the coalition partner of the Congress-led government in the state.

The Congress has 53 members in the state Assembly and formed the government with the support of 12 BPPF(H) MLAs and Independents.

The party, formed by former Bodo Liberation Tigers ultras and led by its ex-chief Hagrama Mohilary, had been insisting on a name for the coalition government instead of being called a Congress-led government, as it was currently known.

A meeting of the party Legislators was convened at the Bodoland Guest House in the city yesterday to discuss the issue.

Mr Mohilary later informed that the Legislators had resolved to meet the Chief Minister this morning to press for coining a name for the government.

He said, '' BPPF(H) is an important partner in the government and we don't want it to be known as a Congress government. We will ask Mr Gogoi to resolve the issue. '' The Bodo party had raised the issue soon after the swearing-in of the government in May and their stand had also been supported by a section of the Congress.

Sources in the Congress said the government could get a new name on the lines of the erstwhile NDA government and the current UPA government at the Centre.

The BPPF(H) leadership is also slated to fly for New Delhi this evening to discuss the issue of registration and other issues with the Election Commission.

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