Date:26/12/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/12/26/stories/2007122662081300.htm

National

Aikyamancha urged to lift poll boycott call

Sushanta Talukdar

Guwahati: The Opposition parties in Assam have urged the leaders of the Janagosthiya Aikyamancha to withdraw its call for boycott of the panchayat polls to ensure larger participation of the people.

The three-phase panchayat polls are scheduled for December 31, January 4 and January 9.

The parties have also appealed to the Aikyamancha to withdraw the call for 36-hour Assam bandh beginning on December 31.

The Aikyamancha is a joint platform of organisations of the Koch-Rajbanshis, Tai-Ahoms, Tea-tribes/adivasis, Morans, Muttocks and Chutias. The Opposition expressed the view though the lack of political will on the part of the ruling Congress to grant Scheduled Tribe status to the six communities have prompted the Aikyamancha to issue the boycott call such a step would only help the Congress.

Reiterating his party’s support to the demand for ST status to the six communities, working president of the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) Phanibhushan Choudhury said that instead of boycotting the polls the leaders of the Aikyamancha should try to secure wider support to the just demand for ST status by availing themselves of opportunities of the parliamentary democracy.

In a joint statement, the four Left parties — CPI (M), CPI, RSP and the CPI (ML) — also appealed the Aikyamancha to review its call for poll boycott and urged it to withdraw the call.

The four Left parties, which have reached seat adjustment among themselves, said that the boycott call would only help the ruling Congress.