The probable alliance between the BJP and Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) seemingly stumbled upon a roadblock on Sunday after hundreds of BJP workers from different districts of the State staged a protest in front of the BJP headquarters at Guwahati demanding the party leaders not go for any understanding with the regional party.
The State BJP leadership, however, said that the party is yet to take a final call on the proposed alliance or the understanding with the AGP ahead of the forthcoming Assam Assembly elections, which is scheduled in a couple of months.
Hundreds of BJP workers gathered in front of the BJP headquarters at Hengrabari area of the city today and shouted slogans against the party leadership and demanding to make the party’s stand clear on the proposed understanding. Some of the grassroots leaders also shouted slogans against Himanta BIswa Sarma, who has joined the BJP from Congress and taking an initiative for the understanding with the AGP.
Several agitated BJP workers also tonsured their heads in front of the party headquarters as a mark of protest against the proposed understanding with the regional party, which was in power in Assam for two terms.
“We have been working for the BJP for last several years. We have heard that the BJP state and Central leaders have decided to go for an understanding with the BJP. We have been working very hard in the constituencies and if this understanding happens, it will ruin the party,” said BJP leader from Barpeta district Amia Kumar Talukder.
Talukder also threatened to resign from the BJP enmass if the saffron party goes for having an understanding with the regional party. He said that the BJP leadership (state and Central) must realize that the saffron party’s alliance with the regional party in 2001 failed to succeed.
“The state leadership is not aware how we are holding the forte in our constituencies. We have worked hard and it is the result of our hard work that the party did well in 2014 lok Sabha polls. We are against the alliance with the AGP and it will damage the party in grassroots,” said another BJP leader from Aamguri constituency while protesting the move.
BJP legislator Jadav Deka, however, welcomed the protests by the grassroots workers and said that the party will definitely consider their demands. “They have some grievances and so they have protested. The party had not taken any decision so far to have an understanding with the AGP. Only talks are on with the AGP and this should not be assumed that the party already had an understanding,” said Deka.