AGP-BJP alliance leads to new equations

Guwahati, April 27. The political landscape in Assam has altered considerably ahead of the polls with new alliances formed and old partnerships dissolved.

The focus in the election this time is on the alliance between the ruling Asom Gana Parishad and the BJP which has catapulted the regional party into the NDA fold. The BJP clinched the deal steamrolling resentment in its State unit.

The BJP will contest 44 seats while the AGP and its new allies, including the All-Bodo Students' Union and the Autonomous State Demand Committee (P), will contest the remaining 82 seats with the AGP contesting 64.

The alliance partners said that the combine will fight the poll to form a stable and purposeful government whose priority will be to bring back peace and progress.

Immediately after the alliance was announced, the ruling four- party alliance, led by the AGP, in which the CPI, CPI(M) and the United People's Party of Assam (UPPA) were partners, was dissolved with the CPI and CPI (M) withdrawing support to the Government. The UPPA merged with the Samajwadi Party which entered into an alliance with the United Minorities Front and announced its decision to contest 38 seats.

Cong. to contest all seats

The Left parties were considering an alliance with the Congress at an earlier stage but it did not come through as the Congress decided to contest all the 126 seats.

Samata Party, an NDA partner, will contest 24 seats without any allies but has appealed to both the AGP and BJP to support their candidates.

The five-party Rashtriya Democratic Alliance (RDA), led by the Nationalist Congress Party, is another front formed prior to the polls and is expected to do well. The other partners are Asom Jatiya Sanmilan, Asom Gana Sangram Parishad, Purbanchaliya Loka Parishad and Labour Party Alliance.

- PTI

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Section  : State Elections
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