AGP confident of NDA’s return in Assam, seat-sharing talks yet to begin: Atul Bora

Guwahati, Feb 13: Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) president Atul Bora expressed confidence that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) would comfortably retain power in the State. However, at the same time, he admitted that formal seat-sharing discussions with the BJP are yet to start.

In an interview with The Assam Tribune, Bora expressed the hope that formal talks with the BJP on seat-sharing for the ensuing State Assembly polls would begin soon.

He said that the seat-sharing formalities should be completed before the declaration of the polls.

Bora said that the strength of the AGP has increased in many constituencies and the party has its roots in all the constituencies of the State. Replying to a question why regional parties are now facing it difficult to survive alone, Bora said that the AGP came to power twice.

But now, because of the population pattern of the State, it is difficult for a regional party to come to power alone.

At the same time, Bora said that the AGP has not given up the regionalism plank and said, “We want progressive regionalism with a national outlook.”

The AGP president said that the party was formed to implement the Assam Accord. But in its two tenures, it could not do much because the party did not get support from the Central Government. But the situation has now changed, and several clauses of the Accord have been implemented.

Bora said that the NDA would retain power because of the development of the State that took place in the last ten years. He said that all the constituencies have seen visible development and lakhs of people are getting direct benefits from the Government schemes.

Bora said that after 40 years of signing the Assam Accord, the martyrs’ memorial to pay tributes to the martyrs of the Assam agitation came up, while the relation with the neighbouring states improved considerably.

He pointed out that at one point in time, tea garden workers were considered a vote bank of the Congress. But the situation has totally changed now.

The NDA Government has launched several welfare schemes for the tea garden workers, like granting land patta, opening of schools, etc. However, he admitted that since the AGP is in alliance with the BJP, it would be difficult for the party to get votes in the minority dominated areas.