AGP bids at reuniting dissident factions for strong Opp

Guwahati, Jul 23 (UNI) The Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) has renewed its efforts to bring back every leader who had left the party fold since its formation in 1985 in a bid to give Assam a proper Opposition party.

This decision was taken yesterday in the General Council meeting of the AGP.

Speaking at a press meet here today, party president Brindabon Goswami said, ''The party will try to bring together all like-minded parties and people associated with the historic Assam Agitation.'' He said a committee would be formed to help in coordination and execution of this decision.

When a question was raised whether the AGP proposed bringing back the estranged factions to its fold or forming a common forum, the president did not clarify and said the special committee would decide on it.

The AGP has two splinter parties, the AGP (Progressive) and the Trinamool Gana Parishad (TGP) and the new bid will try to rope in all those leaders and groups which had veered away from the main party.

The party leadership had been facing the demand by section of the ranks for getting back Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, two-time chief minister and the AGP(P) chief, into the party.

Mr Goswami, however, did not comment on the issue.

The General Council, held under the presidentship of Mr Goswami, also decided to hold the next general convention to be held on August 29 and 30 in the city.

The Election Commission had already directed the AGP to hold the central convention by July 31 as a new central executive of the party would be elected. The term of the present central executive expired in January and it is functioning with a six month extension.

Mr Goswami came under severe criticism from many of the party units during last night's meeting, with many members taking a dig at him for failing to lead the party from the front.

Other leaders of the party were also not spared and many members maintained that a collective introspection was the need of the hour to get the party back on its track and bring back the days when it was in power in the state for two terms.

The matter of 15 MLAs and one MP voting in the recent Presidential election against the party's decision to abstain was also discussed.

Mr Goswami informed that an enquiry would be conducted into the issue and also on reports that some AGP legislators had voted for the Congress candidate.

''No dissidence in the matter will be tolerated and the party will take action against the members,'' he added.

The party chief informed that yesterday's meeting also decided to build up a 'confrontist' political movement, on the lines propagated by Jay Prakash Narayan, to expose the 'corrupt' face of the ruling Congress party and voice the opinion of the people. UNI