Amid discontent and protests over the alliance with the BJP, Assam’s regional political party Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) on Thursday announced first list of 24 candidates, which includes the names of former Assam Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta and Education Minister Brindaban Goswami.
Announcing the list of 24 candidates, AGP president Atul Bora said that the alliance with the saffron party necessitated to keep the Congress out of power in the State. “The political situation in Assam has changed. At present there is no possibility of AGP’s winning the elections alone. So we, after several rounds of deliberations at different levels, have decided to go to the polls with the BJP so that we can keep the Congress out of power,” said Bora while adding that the party is hopeful to win majority of the 24 seats.
Besides, he said, the AGP will also go for having friendly contest in some other constituencies. The list of candidates for these constituencies will be announced soon, he added. It may be mentioned here that protects rocked the State after the AGP and BJP announced the alliance ahead of the forthcoming polls. The grassroots workers of AGP and BJP protested the alliance tooth and nail, which even led to a split in both the parties. While the unhappy supporters of the BJP floated a new party titled Trinamool BJP, the AGP faction, opposed to the alliance, have floated AGP Jatiyatabadi Mancha (AGP Regional Forum).
The AGP president, however, said that the split would not affect the prospect of the AGP candidates in the polls, scheduled for April 4 and April 11.
The AGP’s list of candidates includes Prafulla Kumar Mahanta (Barhampur), Brindaban Goswami (Tezpur), Dr. Kamala Kalita (Chaygaon), Atul Bora (Bokakhat), Phanibhushan Chowdhury (Bongaigaon), Bhupen Roy (South Abhayapuri), Pradip Hazarika (Aamguri), Rabin Banikya (North Abhayapuri), Gunin Das (Barpeta), Keshab Mahanta (Kaliabor), Bhaben Bharali (Dergaon), Jyotiprasad Das (Boko), Pabindra Deka (Patacharkuchi), Ramendra Narayan Kalita (West Guwahati), Mukundaram Chowdhury (Kalaigaon), Ziauddin Ahamed (Jamunamukh), Ranjit Deka (lahorighat), Prabin Hazarika (Biswanath Chariali), Dr. Ali Azam Seikh (Bilasipara west), Utpal Dutta (lakhimpur), Satyabrata Kalita (Kamalpur), Repupama Rajkhowa (Teok), Naren Sonowal (Nahorkotia) and Binod Goala (Sarupathar).
It may be mentioned here that the BJP had last night announced the list of candidates for 88 constituencies for the Assam polls that includes seven women candidates and 20 candidates who are below 40 years of age.
While president of Assam unit of the BJP and party’s Chief Ministerial candidate Sarbananda Sonowal will contest from Majuli, party has pitted lok Sabha MP from Jorhat Kamakhya Prasad Tasha against Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi in Tatabor.