AGP formalises pact with ABSU-BPAC

GUWAHATI, April 23: The regional Asom Gana Parishad today formalised poll alliance with the formidable combine of All-Bodo Students Union (ABSU) and Bodo People's Action Committee (BPAC) providing more teeth to its effort to prevent Congress from capturing power in the May 10 election. The ABSU-BPAC and AGP alliance was formalised after both the parties had signed an agreement on common minimum programme. Apparently, AGP has emerged gainer out of the poll pact as it will receive active support of the ABSU-BPAC in 26 constituencies for supporting ABSU-BPAC candidates in only nine Assembly seats. In three Assembly seats- Gossaigaon, Bhabanipur and Kalaigaon, both the parties will have friendly contests among themselves. As per the poll pact, in nine LACs - Kokrajhar West, Kokrajhar East, Sidli, Bijni, Sapaguri, Tamulpur, Paneri, Udalguri and Mazbat - AGP and its allies will not filed any candidate and support ABSU-BPAC-backed independent candidates. In return ABSU-BPAC will support candidates of AGP-BJP-ASDC(U) in as many as 26 Assembly constituencies - Gauripur, Bilasipara West, Bilasipara East, Abhayapuri North, Bongaigaon, Sarbhog, Patacharkuchi, Sarkhetri, Barama, Nalbari, Kamalpur, Rangiya, Mangaldoi, Dolgaon, Borchola, Dhekiajuli, Sootea, Gohpur, Dhemaji, Jonai, Sarupathar, Diphu, Howraghat, Boko, Dudhnoi and Morigaon. In the agreement, a copy of which was released in a press conference today, the ABSU and the AGP pledged to work together to bring back peace and ensure socio-economic development in the State. The agreement which was released in presence of the AGP president, Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, was signed by Rabi Ram Narzary, president of ABSU and Chandra Mohan Patowary, general secretary of the AGP. Both Narzary and Patowary stated that the ABSU-BPAC and the AGP decided to forge alliance to defeat Congress and hoped to win the election with two-third majority. As per the agreement, the AGP and the ABSU will take initiative to solve Bodoland problem through negotiation with struggling Bodo groups with special care to solve the problems faced by Bodos and other tribal groups covered under jurisdiction of existing tribal councils of the State. The AGP has agreed to pass necessary legislation in the State Assembly and take steps to get the same passed in Parliament and enlist Bodo-Kacharis of Karbi Anglong in the list of Scheduled Tribes (Hills). The regional party further agreed to take up with the government of India the long-standing demand for inclusion of Bodo language in the Eight Schedule of the Constitution. The AGP pledged to mount pressure on the central government to set up a central university at Kokrajhar and establish a medical college, an engineering college and an agricultural university in Bodoland areas. Replying to a question, the ABSU president stated that the Bodo groups decided to go for poll pact with the AGP and BJP as they felt that both these political parties showed the "right attitude" towards finding a solution to the Bodoland problem. He, however, made it clear that the ABSU would continue with its struggle for creation of a separate State for Bodos. It was learnt that the AGP had also made it amply clear before the Bodo groups its stand vis-?-vis demand for creation of a separate State for Bodos.