Date:30/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/30/stories/2008103055881200.htm

National

AGP panel to finalise seat sharing

Special Correspondent

GUWAHATI: The Asom Gana Parishad on Wednesday authorised a seven-member poll panel formed by it to finalise seat sharing with the BJP for the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls.

A meeting of the steering committee discussed the proposed seat sharing with the BJP and other like-minded parties . The meeting decided that the panel would meet the BJP central leadership in Delhi on November 3 to give final shape to seat sharing. Both parties have agreed to set aside the Kokrajhar seat to the Bodoland People’s Progressive Front and the Diphu seat to Autonomous State Demand Committee and share the remaining 12 seats.

They have not been able to reach a final decision on the Guwahati seat. In the 2006 Assembly polls, the AGP won four of the 10 Assembly constituencies falling under Guwahati Lok Sabha seat while the BJP failed to win a single seat.

All the sitting four AGP legislators have impressed upon the party leadership to ensure that the party should field its candidate for the Guwahati seat. However, the BJP has claimed its candidate, the former Union Minister, Bijoya Chakrabarty, had also won the seat earlier and hence this seat should be given to them.