Internal dissension cripples AGP

Guwahati, Sep 22 (UNI) Four months after its second successive drubbing in the assembly poll at the hand of Congress, the main opposition Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) is yet to recover, according to political analysts.

''It is a very bad situation. We have not been able to come up from the defeat of the assembly election and internal squabbles is also crippling us,'' admitted party general secretary Sarbananda Sonowal.

The AGP has convened the parliamentary meeting today where its president Brindabon Goswami is to resign from the post of the leader of the legislature party, in which capacity he had become the leader of the Opposition in the Assembly.

''As per the wishes of the majority of party MLAs, I am resigning that post so that I can concentrate on organising the party,'' he said.

After the shock defeat in the assembly polls, a substantial section of the AGP wants to bring back the breakaway faction led by former Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta. However, Mr Goswami and his supporters, among others, have expressed their opposition to any such move alleging that his "misrule" had led to the Congress capturing power.

''There is need for a broader platform of regional party and anti-Congress forces should not be allowed to split as it cost the regional party twice in the assembly election,'' Mr Mahanta said.

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