AGP reunites to take on Congress

Guwahati, Sep 22 (UNI) The Asom Gana Parishad(AGP), thwarting all hurdles, has reunited again with its splinters parties selecting a new president who attempts to do the 'impossible' of walking with both right and left parties.

After acrimonious day long scenes, AGP, the most powerful regional parties of the North eastern region, got Chandra Mohan Patowary as new president last night along with splinter groups like AGP(P), TGP and the PLP to make it an united force for the first time since 1989.

They are now attempting to bring all anti-Congress blocs to one side getting themselves with BJP, CPM and Assam United Democratic Front (AUDF) for the next Lok Sabha poll.

''The first priority is to forge a seat sharing formula so that anti-Congress votes are not divided,'' said the newly elected president- Chandra Mohan Patowary while talking to media at the party office today.

However Congress thinks this is too ambitious. ''They are trying to do the impossible and it will even sent such a chaotic signal for which we are going to be benefitted more than previous time,'' said Congress leader and state Health Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma.

The BJP is happy with elevation of Mr. Patowary who is supposed to share a very close rapport with BJP national leadership. ''The seat sharing is final and we are only now stuck for one seat that is Guwahati as both the parties are not giving up claim,'' said BJP state president Ramen Deka.

However, Mr. Patowary thinks it is not a big problem. He wants to get CPM and AUDF on board with a separate sharing with his party.

''We will have to work out some formula,'' said Mr. Patowary.

''But the Lok Sabha seats are so nicely located and so easily divided that we should not have much problem,'' said Mr. Patowary.

The Congress camp is nervous as their strategies of foiling the unity bid have not succeeded yet despite keeping several moles within the party, observers feel.

MORE UNI MT ADG/src1403