Mahanta's name avoided as AGP unification com submits report

Guwahati, Aug 26 (UNI) The final phase for unification of splinter groups of Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) was set rolling with the formation of a committee at the party's central executive meet here today.

The contentious issue of re-entry of founder president and two-time chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta was tactfully avoided in the report with no mention of his name directly and only his party's name, AGP(Progressive), figuring.

The report of the unification committee was firm on the need for reconciliation of all individuals and groups that were part of the AGP at the time of formation in 1985, with the district committees in the central executive meet also favouring it.

The unification committee, with AGP working president Bhani Phusan Choudhury as convenor, presented a detailed analysis on how the party had suffered set-backs after each break-away, starting from 1991 till the last Assembly elections in 2006.

On the parleys with the AGP(P), Trinamool Gana Parishad (TGP) and Purbanchalia Lok Parishad (PLP), all break-away factions, and two individuals leaders who had separated from AGP, the committee report stated that all wanted unification.

The report mentioned about the conditions set by the parties regarding allotting posts, though all the groups have made it clear that these conditions would not be irreversible.

The observations of All Assam Students' Union and Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad were also presented in the report, including AASU's opposition to re-entry of Mr Mahanta.

However, Mr Mahanta's name remained the point of attention in the unification process, with his unspoken name creating greater tension than the discussions that took place.

The central executive body meet is expected to go on late into the evening, though a final decision on the unification issue is not likely to come through today.

The main opposition AGP had initiated a reconciliation and unification process of all break-away factions and individuals after the party gradually lost base following the multiple break-ups.

While all issues with all groups are nearly settled, the issue of re-entry of Mr Mahanta, who was expelled for anti-party activities, remained the stumbling block.

A faction of the AGP and other groups were in favour of Mr Mahanta's re-entry, while another section was opposed to it.

UNI SG KK RL KP2022