Formidable regional force on cards, asserts AJP president Lurinjyoti Gogoi

GUWAHATI: AJP (Asom Jatiya Parishad) president Lurinjyoti Gogoi has said that their strategy is to put in place a "formidable regional force minus the AGP to defeat both the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) and the Congress-led alliances" in the forthcoming Assembly election in the State.

Talking to The Sentinel, the AJP president said, "Our talks with the BPF (Bodoland People's Front) and the Raijor Dal are going on in a positive note. Since the BPF is a regional party that fought against the BJP in the recent BTC (Bodoland Territorial Council) election, so we are holding talks for alliance with the party. Our talks with the Raijor Dal are also going on in a positive atmosphere.

"Our regional force is minus the AGP — a coalition partner of the BJP-led government at Dispur.

"We're hopeful of fielding candidates in all the 126 Assembly constituencies in the State."

When asked on the Congress appealing to the AJP for joining the six-party alliance, Lurinjyoti said, "We can't be part of any alliance being led by a national party. The BJP betrayed the people of Assam, so did the Congress. We can't be part of any alliance that has the AIUDF (All India United Democratic Front) as a constituent partner as well. We firmly believe in regional politics."