AASU throws spanner in Mahanta's comeback

Guwahati, May 1 (UNI) The All Assam Students Union (AASU) today threw a spanner in the comeback of Mr Prafulla Kumar Mahanta to the AGP fold saying that the opposition forces should unite to throw out the Congress,but minus Mahanta.

Addressing a press conference here, AASU adviser Dr Samujjal Kr Bhattacharrya said Prafulla Mahanta, the two time former Chief Minister, would be opposed by the student organisation as he ''presided over the downfall of regionalism in Assam''.

Advocating strong regionalism in Assam, he said Congress should be thwarted from coming to power at any cost but that effort should not include Mr Mahanta.

'' He cannot be excused for all his vices, ills and conspiracies.

Rest all the other regional forces should come together. In fact in the process regional forces of smaller tribes should also be roped in for a broader platform to fight the Congress,'' he said.

The AASU's antipathy towards Mr Mahanta was for his complete failure to govern the state in both the terms and taking decisions which were detrimental to the future of the state.

However, the AGP and Mr Mahanta's own party AGP (P) are inching towards an unification and the process was well under way. The AGP is also trying to rope in other splinter groups of the AGP.

''We are concerned about the regionalism and strong positive leadership. The faces of Mr Mahanta and the AGP President Brindabon Goswami only remind us of negativity and anarchy. Both are complete failure. The regional forces should find new leaders amongst them,'' said Dr Bhattacharrya.

The AASU is a major determining force in Assam regional politics.

Although apolitical, their policy and network in the ground can make or break the regional forces of the state.

UNI MT KK SY PM1916