If Farooq can join NDA, why not AGP: CM

GUWAHATI, April 5: The process of seat sharing between the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is progressing well and it will be finalised within the next two to three days, said the AGP president, Prafulla Kumar Mahanta. Addressing a press conference here today, Mahanta however, refused to divulge the details of the process of seat sharing. He justified the AGP's decision to go for seat sharing with the BJP and said, "a friendly Government at the Centre is always beneficial for the State and we see nothing wrong in going for an alliance with the NDA." He pointed out that in the present political situation, the regional parties were playing a crucial role in the formation of governments at the Centre and "if Farooq Abdullah can join the NDA, why not the AGP." The AGP president said that the AGP has not joined the BJP and the ideology of the BJP would never influence the AGP. He asserted that the AGP-NDA alliance would come to power with overwhelming majority. He said that the AGP is a regional party with national outlook and the issues like Centre-State relations were raised by the AGP successfully at the national level. When pointed out that as the Chief Minister he had time and again criticised the BJP-led Government at the Centre, Mahanta said that his criticism was issue based. Commenting on the remarks made by Congress regarding the AGP-BJP alliance, Mahanta alleged that the Congress had joined hands with a party allegedly having links with the LTTE and the Congress party has no moral right to question alliance with other parties. He also revealed that the AGP was having dialogue with the ABSU, Holiram Terang faction of the Autonomous State Demand Committee as well as with the Samajwadi Party and the UMF. Replying to a question regarding the resignation of CPI leader Promode Gogoi from the AGP-led ministry, Mahanta said that the Left parties might have some compulsions but "that would not help the Congress in the coming polls." Mahanta said that the Congress has no moral right to criticise the AGP as "our Government achieved much more than what the Congress did in 45 years." He gave a detailed account of the "achievements" of the AGP Government and asserted that only the AGP can fulfil the hopes and aspirations of all sections of the people of Assam.