Former minister and former AASU leader join AGP(P)

Guwahati, Jun 21 (UNI) The Prafulla Kumar Mahanta-led Asom Gana Parishad(Progressive) received a major boost today, with a top BJP leader and a former student leader joining the party along with more than 100 supporters.

BJP leader Umesh Das, who was a minister in the erstwhile AGP government, and former AASU leader Satyabrat Kalita joined the AGP(P) along with scores of supporters from Nagaon and Kamrup districts.

Mr Kalita, had unsuccessfully contested the last Assembly elections as an independent candidate from the Kamalpur constituency, while Mr Das lost the elections from Roha constituency by a narrow margin.

Buoyed by the joining of the leaders, AGP(P) supremo and former chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta called upon the people to strengthen the regional forces.

''The Congress has failed to keep its promises. The 50-year Congress rule has made no difference to the state,'' he said, castigating the state government for failing to open employment opportunities for the educated youths of the state since the last six years.

He accused the Congress of duping the people by making false propaganda.

''Development has been stalled, the employment and insurgency problems continues to cripple the state. While the Congress lined up a series of promises in its election manifesto, on ground it has failed to fulfill any,'' Mr Mahanta fired.

Exuding confidence in the AGP(P) president, Mr Das said Asom can progress only under the leadership of Mr Mahanta.

The AGP(P), a breakaway faction of the AGP, has of late launched a massive campaign to garner public support, especially in upper Asom.

UNI