File photo of Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal speaking at a programme. UB photos

Days after AGP sapped ties with BJP, Assam Opposition leader Debabrata Saikia has asked Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal to quit the saffron and form a new government with the support from Congress party.

“In view of the current situation in the state following the Citizenship Amendment Bill giving rise to protests here, Sarbananda Sonowal should leave BJP and come out with even just 40 of his MLAs,” Saikia, who represents Nazira constituency in the Assembly, told a local TV channel here.

“We will have Sonowal only as the chief minister of Assam again. We have 25 legislators in the 126-member House. We can take support from AGP and other parties to form the new state government,” said Congress leader Saikia.

The current 14th Assembly has 61 BJP, 25 Congress, 14 Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), 13 AIUDF, 12 Bodoland Peoples Front (BPF) and one independent MLA.

The AGP, which had snapped ties the Sonowal government on January 7 over the Centre introducing and passing the Bill in Lok Sabha, indicated before reporters in Golaghat that it may restore its ties with BJP in the state, a news agency reported.

Asked if his party would renew its alliance with the saffron party, AGP president Atul Bora said, “If the government scraps the bill giving rise to the need to discuss the issue in our party forum and depending on the need of the political situation…we may reconsider our alliance with BJP”.

“Cannot say anything now till the Bill is dropped. We will observe their activities and as of now take a wait and watch stand,” Bora said.