AGP-BJP poll pact remains inconclusive

NEW DELHI, March 7: Decision on forming alliance with the AGP still eluded the BJP, with its much-talked about strategy meeting remaining inconclusive. A final decision is now likely to be taken by the Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee in consultation with the senior leaders, party sources said. A marathon meeting between the Central and State leadership of the party that lasted for several hours today failed to take a final decision on the issue of alliance in Assam. A high-level delegation comprising the State and Central leadership including the BJP's national president, Bangaru Laxman and Union Home Minister, LK Advani is calling on the Prime Minister later in the night to discuss the issue. The meeting today chaired by Bangaru Laxman was attended by former BJP president, Kushabahu Thakre, Union Home Minister, LK Advani, Narendra Modi, general secretary in-charge for Northeast, Sunil Shastri among a host of central party leadership. The State unit was led by its president, Rajen Gohain, included, Minister of State for Water Resources, Bijoya Chakrabarty, former State Minister, Kabindra Purkayastha, Bimalangshu Roy among others. Meanwhile, a lot of confusion prevailed here among party men following conflicting reports about BJP-AGP alliance. At the meeting today the State unit was unanimous against forming any pre-poll alliance with the regional party. The State unit explained in details the reasons for choosing to ignore the regional party. The growing public anger against the AGP and the anti-incumbency factors were cited as some of major handicaps. Sources said the State leadership, however has not been able to convince the central leadership how it proposed to overcome the leadership drawback as well as its poor performance in all the three Assembly by-elections held recently. Barring the Majuli seat, the BJP candidates lost even the security deposit. That its stand has not convinced the central leadership was evident from reactions of the State leaders. "We have made our submission and it is for the party high command to decide," Gohain told this newspaper, after he emerged from the meeting. The BJP leader admitted that news report about a possible alliance has created even more confusion. "Nobody from among the central leadership has so far rejected our stand and we have been told that our point regarding alliance with the AGP has been taken note of," Gohain added. To make matter worse for the BJP State leaders, a national daily today quoting BJP sources reported that BJP has decided to sign a pact with the AGP and that the Union Home Minister and Chief Minister, Prafulla Kumar Mahanta held discussions last week. It went on to report that seat sharing arrangements between the two are now to be worked out, to the chagrin of the BJP State leaders. Meanwhile, the BJP sources said at the meeting today, the State leadership contended that they are likely to win to 34 seats on its own, while in another 23 seats they are in an advantageous position. They also pointed out to the leadership that out of the seats held by the Congress party they can give the party a run for their money in at least 19 seats, sources added. Meanwhile, at least four senior Central Ministers have been assigned to the State for the overall supervision of the polls by the party. The ministers including Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Promod Mahajan, Union Tribal Welfare Minister, Joel Oram, Petroleum Minister, Ram Naik and Coal Minister of State, Shabnawaj Hussain besides, Bijoya Chakraborty.