AGP unification on the cards

Guwahati, Apr 7 (UNI) More than a year after Asom Gana Parishad's (AGP) defeat in the state Assembly elections, efforts to unite the splinter groups of the regional party are gaining momentum.

During a party meeting here today, as many as eight district units of the party advocated the unification of the splinter party groups, including the faction led by former Asom Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta.

After today's meeting, AGP general secretary Atul Bora said all eight district committees present in the meeting were of the opinion the party should unite if it had to come out of the present situation.

''The district units felt the regional forces should be strengthened before the ensuing panchayat elections and unification is the only way out,'' Mr Bora added.

Another meeting of the district unit is scheduled to be held later this month.

A couple of weeks back, the AGP legislature party also resolved to unite the breakaway AGP factions ''if the party was to fight the Congress in the ensuing panchayat elections''.

A recent study conducted by some 'neutral leaders' of the AGP on the defeat of the party in the last Assembly elections also found that the party had to suffer defeats in as many 17 LACs as a fallout of the 'splits'.

The AGP, presently the single largest opposition party with 24 MLAs in the 126-member state assembly, was formed in the aftermath of the Asom Movement (1979-1985) by the leaders who spearheaded the historic agitation.

Even as it came to power two times since its birth, the party suffered a number of 'splits' after the late nineties, with its members either jumping into other parties or floating their own political outfits.

In 2005, the party leadership expelled two-time chief minister and founder president Prafulla Kumar Mahanta on charges of 'anti-party activities'.

Party president Brindabon Goswami has been averse to the idea of unification but a number of other senior leaders, including some secretaries and vice-presidents, have came out openly in support of the unification.

The Asom Gana Parishad (Progressive), led by Mr Mahanta, and Trinamul Gana Parishad(TGP), led by former Asom PWD Minister Atul Bora, are the major surviving offshoots of the AGP.

When contacted, Mr Mahanta refused to comment on the issue.

UNI