New Delhi / AMN
BJP today formally announced its electoral ties with Assam Gan Parishad, AGP for Assembly elections in Assam. AGP, which has ruled the state on its own twice, will now contest only 24 seats while the rest 126 will be divided among BJP and three smaller outfits. BJP has already entered into a tie-up with Bodoland People’s Front, which will contest 16 seats, besides two other outfits representing local tribes.
Announcing the electoral tie up at a press conference here Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said that the “massive infiltration” in the state with the “collusion and patronage” of the Tarun Gogoi-led Congress government will be their main poll issue besides freeing the state of “corrupt and non-developmental” rule marked by “mal governance”.
An alliance with AGP, which is now a much weaker force but retains some influence, will help BJP, which emerged the largest party in the Lok Sabha poll in 2014, in consolidating Hindu votes in a state where Muslims are more than 30 per cent and back UDF and Congress, BJP sources said. They said the AGP leaders had also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi before the alliance was sealed.
“All indigenous and our people are one side and UDF with the blessings of Congress on the other,” Himanta Biswa Sarma, BJP leader and convener of the state’s Election Management Committee, told the media.
Badruddin Ajmal-led UDF has emerged as a strong force in the state, drawing its support mostly from Muslims.
Union Minister and Assam BJP chief Sarbananda Sonowal, who is the alliance’s chief ministerial candidate, and AGP chief Atul Bora besides BJP General Secretary Ram Madhav were also present at the media conference.
The leaders said implementing the Assam accord, under which illegal immigrants are to be identified and deported, will be a priority for the alliance if it is voted to power.