GUWAHATI: Former Assam Chief Minister and regional Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) leader,Prafulla Kumar Mahanta complemented Mizo National Front (MNF) chief Zoramthangafor the landslide victory in Mizoram Assembly election and said that only a regional party could fulfill the aspirations of the people in the Northeast
Mahanta, who led the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) during the six-year-long Assam Movement, further said that the MNF has been able to foil the attempt of two national parties—the Congress and BJP to defeat the regional force.
“I congratulate Zoramthanga ji for leading the regional party to a landslide victory against the Congress and BJP. Only a regional party can fulfill the aspirations of people. In Assam also, Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) has been able to regain people’s faith,” he said.
Referring to the AGP’s alliance with the BJP in Assam, Mahanta said, “It is under doubt as to how long this alliance continues. I have suggested to the AGP leadership to come out of the alliance at an opportune time for better.”
Although the AGP and BJP are in alliance in Dispur, the relationship between the two parties is souring over the issue of Citizenship(Amendment) Bill 2016. While the BJP wants to pass the Bill, the AGP has recently written a letter to union Home Minister Rajnath Singh saying that the regional party would come out of the alliance if the controversial Bill is passed.
Mahanta also appealed the Lok Sabha MPs from Assam irrespective of their political party affiliations to speak up in the Parliament against the Bill. “The Winter Session of the Parliament has started from today. I appeal the MPs from Assam to be vocal in the House against the Bill,” he said adding that the Bill if passed will affect the indigenous people of the state.
The two parties have also contested the recently concluded panchayat polls in Assam separately and mounted attack on each other over the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016.