AASU and AJYCP leaders may contest State Assembly polls

GUWAHATI: The presidents and general secretaries of the AASU (All Assam Students' Union) and the AJYCP (Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuva-Chatra Parishad) along with several leaders of both these organizations are set to contest the Assembly polls slated in April 2021.

They have already decided to form a new regional party with an agenda that will be primarily not only against the BJP-AGP combine but also the Congress as well as the AIUDF (All India United Democratic Front).

Many ethnic groups and citizens have expressed the need to have an alternative political force. The seeds of this new regional political force were planted during the movement against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in Assam during the period from December 2019 to January 2021.

Sources informed that while AASU president Dipanko Kumar Nath is keen to fight the polls either from Guwahati (East) or Goalpara (East), AASU general secretary Lurin Jyoti Gogoi is looking forward to contest either from Duliajan or Naharkatia. Both the leaders will quit AASU during the organization's general conference at Duliajan in October this year.

On the other hand, while AJYCP president Rana Pratap Barua is interested to contest from Dhekiajuli or Borsola, AJYCP general secretary Palash Changmai might contest from Sonari.

The leaders of both these organizations are having a number of parleys with their former leaders and also grassroots workers regarding the formation of a new political force.

Talking to The Sentinel, AASU general secretary Gogoi said, "The last central executive meeting of AASU agreed in principle that an alternative political force should be formed against the BJP-AGP coalition, the Congress and the AIUDF. Each of these parties has betrayed the people of Assam."

Clarifying that "AASU will always remain apolitical", Gogoi added, "The first meeting of the 'Assam Advisory Committee' will be held within a week."

The 16-member 'Assam Advisory Committee' was constituted by the AASU and the AJYCP on August 19. Its objective is to ensure the safety and security of the indigenous people of Assam. After the formation of this committee, AASU president Nath said, "This committee will draw an educational, social, economic and political roadmap for the AASU and the AJYCP to move ahead."

Also Watch: Get Set Global: Assam for Global Assamese & Their Contributions