AGP ties up with ABSU, BPAC

By Barun Das Gupta

GUWAHATI, APRIL 23. The Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) today announced it had entered into a poll alliance with the All Bodo Students' Union (ABSU) and the Bodo People's Action Committee (BPAC).

After its tie-up with the BJP, this is the ruling party's second ``marriage of convenience'' as it is totally opposed to the further dismemberment of Assam and creation of a separate Bodo State, while the ABSU and BPAC are vowed to carry on their struggle till a Bodo State is achieved.

At the joint press conference addressed by the AGP and the ABSU- BPAC leaders, the two sides reiterated their respective positions on Bodo State. Asked how they would conduct joint campaigning in the Bodo areas, the AGP general secretary and Agriculture Minister, Mr. Chandra Mohan Patowary, said the contradictory stand of the two sides would be resolved after the elections.

``We have a solution which we will not disclose now,'' Mr. Patowary said. Earlier, the Chief Minister and AGP president, Mr. Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, said their front would win the elections and provide a stable government.

While the AGP will contest 77 seats, the ABSU-BPAC combine will contest nine seats and it will support the AGP-BJP candidates in 26 seats, where there is a sizeable Bodo population. In three constituencies, there will be ``friendly contests'' between the AGP and the ABSU-BPAC.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Other States
Next     : 12 die as violence mars Bihar poll