Samajwadi Party tries to prevent AGP-BJP deal

Guwahati, May 03 (UNI) The United National Progressive Alliance(UNPA) is trying hard to stop any possible coalition between the Assam's main Opposition party, AGP, with BJP.

UNPA convenor Amar Singh along with AGP president Bridnabon Goswami flew in to the city from New Delhi yesterday to stop the AGP-BJP tie-up after sensing a secret deal on seat sharing between the two parties in the coming Lok Sabha polls.

''Let me inform you that the AGP is very much with the UNPA, which will soon have a pan India presence. Mr Goswami is very much with us,'' Mr Singh said here while addressing a press meet here today.

The SP general secretary also clarified that there was no nothing between the AGP and BJP.

To this Mr Goswami said, ''There were some rounds of discussions with the BJP but they were not going to have any truck with them.'' ''These are all rumors spread by the BJP,'' Mr Singh added.

Meanwhile, Mr Goswami, who is feeling left out in his own party, was trying to prevent former Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta from re-entering the AGP, which has decided to reunite with all its splinter groups.

While, Mr Goswami favoured the UNPA, majority of the AGP wanted a a seat sharing arrangement with the BJP.

The SP leader further clarified that Chandrababu Naidu, Farooq Abdullah, Mulyam Singh Yadav and Brindabon Goswami would be with the UNPA.

He, however, welcomed the appeal of the All Assam Student Union (AASU) for uniting all the regional forces in the state.

The AASU has been protesting against Mr Mahanta's re-entry into the party and termed him as a "traitor".

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