Advani non-committal on poll pact

GUWAHATI, February 5: The Union Home Minister and senior BJP leader, L K Advani today refused to categorically rule out the possibility of an electoral alliance between the AGP and the BJP for the ensuing Assembly elections in the state. Addressing a Press conference here today, Advani said that the decision on any alliance would be taken by the party high-command in consultation with the state unit of the party. Advani said that the BJP president Bangaru Laxman would soon convene a meeting with the state units of the five states where elections are due shortly to formulate the party's strategy for the elections. He said that any decision on possibility of alliance would be taken in the meeting. Advani asserted that there was substantial goodwill for the BJP in Assam and that would be reflected in the ballots in the coming elections. It may be mentioned here that the state unit leaders of the BJP are opposed to an alliance with the AGP, while during his recent visit to the state, BJP general secretary Narendra Modi categorically ruled out the possibility of an alliance with AGP. Meanwhile, the Union Home Minister today expressed satisfaction over the present situation in Assam and the steps taken by the Government of Assam to contain terrorism and insurgency and to bring about peace in the State, an official release said. Advani, who had a meeting with the Governor of Assam, Lt Gen (Retd) S K Sinha and Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta at the Darbar Hall of Raj Bhawan, today reviewed the law and order situation of Assam and took stock of the progress of anti-insurgency operations. The meeting was attended by the Chief Secretary, Home Commissioner, Director General of Police and other concerned high civil and police officials of the State Government.