Split in AGP-led alliance likely

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 of the reports. He said that the CPI considered the BJP as a communal reactionary and pro-imperialist party and "the CPI would have no truck with any party joining hands with the BJP." He said that according to reports, the AGP would discuss the possibility of a poll pact with the BJP on April 2 and a clear picture of the future of the four-party alliance would emerge by April 3. Gogoi said that the CPI would initiate talks with the constituents of the Peoples' Front to evolve a common approach in the changed political scenario. He revealed that the CPI, CPM, Samajwadi Party, and the Janata Dal (Secular) leaders met informally last evening to discuss the changed political scenario. The CPI leader also said that the CPI, on its own, has already started preparations to face the polls in 46 of the 126 Assembly constituencies of the State, subject to adjustments with like minded parties. Meanwhile, commenting on the reports of possible poll tie-up between the AGP and the BJP, the secretary of the Assam unit of the CPM, Hemen Das said, "we have already made our stand clear. We shall be faced to come out of the alliance if the AGP joins hands with the BJP." Das said that it is up to the AGP to decide whether they would like to stay with the Left parties or to go to the BJP. He said that the constituents of the four party alliance were scheduled to meet before April 5 and "we shall wait up to that day to decide the future course of action." He also said that the CPM has already started its own preparations to face the polls. It may be mentioned here that the failure of the AGP to make up its mind regarding poll alliance with the BJP has put the Left parties under confusion. The CPI and CPM took the decision to stay with the alliance and called for expanding the alliance by including other democratic and secular forces only after the AGP made it clear to them that the party would not forge an alliance with the BJP. But the AGP started negotiation with the BJP at a time when discussions between the four-party alliance were on. The AGP, in its last general conference had termed the BJP as a communal force but now it seems that the AGP may go for an alliance with the same party.