Advani's visit triggers activity in political circles in Assam

Guwahati, Sep 30 (UNI) The hurricane visit of Leader of the Opposition L K Advani to Assam and Meghalaya has initiated massive activity among political circles in these two states with the political equations changing fast.

Similar to the rest of the country, Assam is largely gearing up for bipolar politics ahead of the Lok Sabha polls with the Congress leading the tribal forces for the UPA in the state while all other regional parties, barring the AUDF, have been veering towards the BJP-led NDA, leaving the Left parties out in the cold.

''The high point of my visit was the formal meeting with the AGP leadership with whom we are going ahead for a long term alliance,'' Mr Advani announced here yesterday.

The AGP, after the ouster of its previous president Brindabon Goswami, who was inclined towards the Third Front, has now decisively stood by the BJP.

''I think only the NDA can resolve the problems in Assam and North East India. We will fight together to save the nation from the UPA's misrule,'' AGP president Chandra Mohan Patowary said.

The Congress, overshadowed by Opposition politics during the past fortnight, hit back at the AGP, alleging that the party had no principles and was shuttling from the Left parties to the BJP over a span of just a decade.

''The AGP is a party of opportunists. They have proved it again and again. This time they have given us a chance to teach them a combined lesson. We had nine seats in the last Lok Sabha elections and after this new alliance with BJP, our tally will increase by one seat,'' Assam government spokesperson and Health Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma today claimed.

Sandwiched between the two powerhouses of the UPA and NDA are the Left parties and Assam United Democratic Front (AUDF). The Left parties may have lost significance in Assam politics but a defiant AUDF was looking to make a serious dent into the Congress votebank as the Muslim votes will be split.

''If the AGP is with the BJP, then we are not going to go with that party,'' AUDF president Badaruddin Ajmal said.

However, Mr Patowary had been trying his best to include the AUDF in its fold.

UNI MT DPM RJ HT1412