STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: More than three decades after Assam witnessed the birth of the first regional political party – the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), the stage is now set for the formation of another regional political platform. This party is likely to be floated in October this year.
The All Assam Students' Union (AASU), Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) and various other ethnic organizations will back the new political party. One of the aims of this proposed party is to politically solve all the issues of the State including illegal influx of the Bangladeshi nationals.
AASU general secretary Lurinjyoti Gogoi told The Sentinel that the need for an alternative regional political force was strongly felt in Assam during the anti-CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act) movement in the last part of 2019 and the early part of 2020.
He said, "Since the ruling BJP and the AGP cheated the people of the State by supporting the CAA, it was the need of the hour to form an alternative regional political party.
"The Congress had also cheated the people of Assam in the past. The AIUDF is fundamentally a communal party. Under such a situation, the people of the State want a political party which will solve the burning issues of Assam. This political party should sincerely work for the 'Mati' (land) and the 'Manuh' (people) of Assam. The move is being supported not only by the AASU but also by the AJYCP, ethnic organizations, intellectuals, journalists, krishaks (farmers) and members of various organizations," Gogoi said.
Gogoi added that public opinions are being generated — both in the valleys of the Brahmaputra and the Barak as well as the hills. "Survey is being conducted in 100 Assembly constituencies to gauge the prospects of the new political party.
The AASU will hold its general conference at Duliajan in October this year. The last conference was held in 2015. During the conference, a new central committee will be constituted and many of the present leaders will formally quit the students' union to join the proposed regional party.
The AGP was born in 1985 in Golaghat after the historic six-year-long anti-foreigners' movement. The AASU then patronized the AGP. With time, the AASU is supporting another regional political party — 35 years after the AGP was floated.
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