The Asom Gana Parishad (AGP)’s decision to walk out of the alliance with the BJP is likely to give the much needed boost to the regional political party ahead of the Lok Sabha polls slated for early this year.
The regional party’s decision has elated thousands of grassroots level party workers who felt that the snapping ties with the national party will only boost the party’s image among the people of Assam.
It may be mentioned here that there had been large scale dissent among different ranks and file of the AGP over the party’s amorphous stand on Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016 though the party’s top leadership had time and again made it clear that they would snap the ties with BJP if the bill is passed and implemented in Assam.
Aslo read: Despite protests in Assam, Union Cabinet approves Citizenship Bill
Senior AGP leader and human rights activist Lachit Bordoloi hailed the move of the regional party and said that the move will help the party not only to regain its strength but also to start a stronger movement against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016.
“A section of people believes that it was little late for the party to take the right decision of coming out of the alliance. However, it is a decision to honour the demands and sentiments of the people of the state,” Bordoloi said adding that now the protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016 will be stronger and far reaching.
“There have been agitations against the Bill by the AGP. However, it will be intensified from all angles now—legal, democratic and political,” said Bordoloi.
AGP legislator and MLA from Lakhimpur, Utpal Dutta also expressed happiness over the party’s decision and said that the party would only gain after breaking from the alliance. I admit that there is little delay in announcing the decision. But there was no question of AGP betraying the people of Assam,” Dutta said.