NEW DELHI, Feb 7 ? North East Peoples Forum?s (NEPF) bid to turn into a formidable regional political force has run into rough weather, with the majority of the region?s BJP State units expressing strong reservation to the proposal preferring to fight the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls alone.
The BJP Central leadership after taking note of the views of the State BJP office bearers assured them that a final decision would be taken in consultations with them. If the prevailing mood of the BJP State units were any indications then alliance with regional parties could be ruled out. The Assam State BJP was particularly adamant against having any truck with either P.A.Sangma?s NCP and Asom Gana Parishad (AGP).
But the ruling NDA as well as the BJP Central leadership may find it tough to reject Sangma?s hands of friendship and ultimately agree to share a few seats with NCP. The fate of alliance with NEPF, however, hangs in balance, confided a senior leader of the Party.
The rigid mood among the BJP?s North-east State units, however, has put the Central leadership in a tight spot given that ruling NDA has already opened negotiations with NEPF to pave their entry into the NDA fold. A delegation of the NEPF led by Nagaland Chief Minister, N.Rio yesterday held discussion with Defence Minister, George Fernandes, who is the convenor of the NDA.
The BJP Central leadership, meanwhile, held discussions with representatives of the North East State units to ascertain their views. All State units including representatives of Assam BJP pleaded with Central leadership to fight the election alone expressing scepticism about the outcome of alliance with NEPF.
A strong Assam BJP delegation led by State unit president, Indramoni Bora, and that included Minister of State for Water Resources, Bijoya Chakravarty, former State president, Rajen Gohain, senior leaders Kabindra Purkayastha, Narayan Borkotoki, Ramen Kalita, Bimalangshu Roy among others held intense deliberations with national president, M.Vekahiah Naidu, general secretary in-charge, Pyrelal Khandelwal and Arun Sathe.
After the initial round of discussions, yet another round was held to take stock of the Party?s position in Assam, which has the highest number of 14 seats. Sri Bora, V.Satish, Sri Khandelwal and Sri Sathe among others attended the deliberations that reviewed constituency-wise position of the Party. To the surprise of the BJP?s Central leadership all the State units spoke on the same line contending that the NEPF was not envisaged to be a political front and that BJP which is already part of the ruling NDA should be part of any other political platform.
After the meeting national president of the BJP told newsmen that the Party Election Management Committee would take a final view on the issue of alliance in the North-east. However, he added that they were engaged in talks with Sangma though the issue of seat sharing has not been discussed so far. ?We want to keep Sangma with us,? he remarked in reply to a question.
Meanwhile, yet another partner, INPT of Tripura is all set to join the NDA. A crucial meeting has been convened for tomorrow to finalise the partnership. A delegation of four MLAs and other senior leaders of the Party was expected to join the Central leadership to finalise the pact. Meanwhile, the Assam BJP is likely to finalise its list of candidate early next month when general secretary in-charge for the State arrives in Guwahati on March 2.
The State Election Committee is slated to meet on March 2-3 to finalise the list of candidates. A senior leader revealed that they are planning to put up candidate in 13 constituencies leaving one for the Bodo candidate subject to clearance from Central leadership.