GUWAHATI: It’s official now. After a lot of speculation, Congress in Assam on Tuesday announced a pre-poll alliance with Badruddin Ajmal led All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), Ancholik Gana Morcha (AGM) and the left parties to form a ‘Maha Gathbandhan’ (Grand Alliance) of opposition parties to defeat the incumbent BJP government.
The alliance between the parties were though on cards, the process got stuck after Congress’ veteran leader and former chief minister Tarun Gogoi died in November last year.
Announcing the development, Jitendra Singh as AICC general secretary in-charge of Assam, said, “It’s the much needed step. For safeguarding the social harmony and Assamese community’s fundamental rights, the opposition needed to unite and uproot BJP from power. We don’t want the anti BJP votes to get divided.”
Adding to him, Assam Pradesh Congress Committee president Ripun Bora said that the Maha Gathbandhan would welcome all the anti BJP forces to join hands. “So far, the grand alliance has Congress, AIUDF, AGM and left parties of CPI, CPI (M) and CPI (ML),” Bora informed.
Earlier, Congress and AIUDF though had offered to join hands with newly floated regional political parties of Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) and Raijor Dal (RD), both the regional parties refuted the offer.
Anchalik Gana Morcha (AGM) chief convener and MP Ajit Kumar Bhuyan said, “Our doors are open because it’s very important for all anti BJP forces to unite to dethrone this government from power. We have worked on a common minimum program and decided to fight the poll together.”
State’s assembly polls are slated sometime in April-May.
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