Politics / Assam

GUWAHATI, April 1: It is as if scandals have become an inevitable fate for the State's Veterinary Department. Because of the misdeeds of some unscrupulous elements, who are an insignificant minority of point four to point five in size in the about 8,000-strong army of the Departments' staff, the Veterinary Department is again in the news. This time it is a scandal involving Rs 40 crore borrowed from the World Bank to bring about a white revolution in the State. No doubt, like the previous Rs 400-crore Veterinary LoC scam, this time also the honest officers and employees of the Department, who...

NEW DELHI, March 31: A casual remark by Chief Minister, Prafulla Kumar Mahanta to the Union Home Minister, LK Advani that the Congress in Assam would stand to gain from the three-cornered contest between the AGP-BJP and Congress that set the ball rolling forcing the leadership of the BJP to re-think on its poll strategy. When Mahanta went to meet the Union Home Minister this Thursday, to talk about resolving the Bodo problem, even he had no idea that he would be triggering a chain of events that would turn around the political scenario in the State. A top BJP leader told The Assam Tribune that...

GUWAHATI, March 31: The future of the four-party ruling alliance hangs in balance as the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) has initiated dialogue with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for a possible poll tie-up. The Left parties - CPI and CPM have already made it clear that they would be forced to come out of the alliance if the AGP comes closer to the BJP, while, the Samajwadi Party yesterday ruled out the possibility of a poll pact with the AGP. Commenting on the reports of a possible AGP-BJP poll alliance, senior CPI leader and State Flood Control Minister Promode Gogoi said that his party took note...

GUWAHATI, March 31: The three-day 32nd general conference of the All Assam Tribal Sangh (AATS) which concluded at Tamulpur, in Nalbari district, today, reiterated its demand for the repeal of the controversial IMDT Act. It also demanded that the gas cracker project be shifted from Lapetkata to another site. It further called for immediate steps to ensure proper utilisation of the funds earmarked for the welfare of tribals in the state. The conference also formed a new committee. Bipul Deuri and Aditya Khaklari retained their positions as the Sangh president and general secretary respectively...

NEW DELHI, March 30: All speculations were today set to rest as the new Bodo agreement involving the Bodo Liberation Tigers (BLT) is likely to be signed only after the State Assembly polls. Negotiations henceforth would take the shape of tripartite talks involving the various Bodo groups, Government of India and Assam Government. The talks were put back on the rails at the meeting between the Union Home Minister, LK Advani and the BLT leadership represented by vice chairman, Kamal Muchahary and publicity secretary, Mainao Doimary. At the meeting, the Union Government agreed to expedite the...

GUWAHATI, March 30: The State Samajwadi Party (SP) has closed its door for the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) saying there is no question of forging an alliance with a gaddar (betrayer) party. Addressing a press conference here today, national secretary, north-zone of SP, Mahabir Singh said that instead of forging an alliance with the AGP, the party will fight alone in the coming Assembly election. Giving the rationale behind the party's' disappointment with the AGP, Singh further said that it has started losing political base due to wrong policies. "As SP's performance is gradually increasing it...

NEW DELHI, March 30: Assam Government has scaled down its plea for a three-phase election and instead, now wants a two-phase poll in the State to ensure adequate deployment of security forces during the polls. The state government's views were conveyed to the Chief Election Commissioner, M S Gill by the Chief Minister, Prafulla Kumar Mahanta here this morning. The Chief Minister's meeting with the CEC came, even as the Assam Congress here yesterday submitted a memorandum to the Election Commission of India (EC) alleging gross violation of code of conduct by the state government. Meanwhile...

GUWAHATI, March 29: The three-day 32nd conference of the Assam Tribal Sangha (ATS) got underway at Tamulpur in Nalbari district today. The conference assumes significance keeping in view the forthcoming Assembly election in which a new political party is likely to emerge. Altogether nine political parties including Autonomous State Demand Committee (ASDC-Rongpi faction), Mising Mimang Kebang (MMK), All Assam Tiwa Students Union (AATSU) are participating in conference. According to general secretary of ATS, Aditya Khaklari several issues will come up for discussions. Khaklari further said that...

GUWAHATI, March 29: The Election Commission of India (EC) has frozen the name Autonomous State Demand Committee (ASDC) and the symbol allotted to it namely 'Boy and Girl' in view of the unresolved dispute between the two splinter groups of the ASDC having base at Karbi Anglong and NC Hills districts of the State. The Election Commission after hearing both the ASDC groups - one led by Holiram Terang as the president and another led by Chandrakanta Terang as the president - decided to treat both the groups at par in view of the ensuing Assembly polls in the State, pending final determination of...

GUWAHATI, March 29: The Assam State committee of the CPM is in favour of expanding the existing four-party alliance with the inclusion of other like-minded parties. Talking to The Assam Tribune her today, the secretary of the state unit of the CPM, Hemen Das, said that his party has no objection if any like-minded democratic and secular party is included in the alliance to strengthen it. He said that the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) has initiated discussion with the Holiram Terang faction of the Autonomous State Demand Committee (ASDC) and the All Bodo Students' Union (ABSU). Das said that the CPM...