Revolt brewing in AGP over unification

Guwahati, Apr 29 (UNI) Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) president and Opposition leader Brindabon Goswami is facing a rebellion from within the party over re-unification of splinter groups, ahead of the panchayat elections in Asom.

In a meeting presided over by Mr Girin Barua (MLA), the Nagaon district unit of the AGP today passed a resolution in support of the unification of the beleaguered regional force.

The splinter groups are mainly the AGP (Progressive), led by former chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, and the Trinamool Gana Parishad (TGP) headed by ex-minister Atul Bora.

Mr Mahanta was expelled from the party two years ago on charges of 'anti-party' activities. Besides, a number of other top leaders, like former MLAs Rekha Rani Das Boro and Biraj Sharma also broke away from the party.

The AGP president was not in favour of bringing the estranged leaders back to the party fold.

The debacle of the party in the last Assembly elections is seen as a fall-out of its disintegration.

However, many senior leaders have gone on record in favour of the re-unification which, they felt, was the only way to strengthen the party.

In a legislature party meeting on March 29 last, as many as 18 of the 24 AGP legislators supported the unification. However, Mr Goswami was conspicuous by his absence in the meeting.

In a committee meeting of the party on April 7 last, eight district committees strongly supported the re-unification.

In fact, the Darrang district unit of the party had served an ultimatum to the party leadership, stressing the need to reunite the splinter groups before the panchayat polls.

The AGP was in power for two terms, while there have been splits within the party since its birth in late 80s.

The AGP has 24 MLAs in the 126-member state Assembly.

UNI