AASU's AJP to join hands for united regional force in Assam

GUWAHATI

Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP), the regional party floated by the All Assam Students Union (AASU), will join hands with “like-minded” regional parties, including Raijor Dal, the party spearheaded by the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS), in a bid to take on the ruling alliance and Opposition parties in next year’s Assembly elections.

Speaking to the media here, AJP coordinator Jagadish Bhuyan said the regional party had, from the outset, hinted at joining hands with all regional parties not affiliated to national parties ahead of the polls.

“From Day One itself, we have been categorical in our stand in regard to uniting with like-minded regional parties in the state not affiliated to national parties in a bid to form a united regional force,” Bhuyan said.

He, however, said that the political developments will take shape only after the party’s political convention in November when the final state committee of the new party would be announced.

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“As of now, we are gearing up our membership drive and organisational work across the districts of the state. Once we have the state committee constituted, the political aspects would be discussed and the developments would accordingly take place,” the party coordinator said.

It may be recalled that the formation of AJP was announced on September 14, 2020, under the aegis of AASU and Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad to be the “people’s party and staying connected to people in the state.

Reportedly, the party is likely to contest 80-100 seats in the Assembly elections during mid-2021.

Three weeks later, KMSS along with 70 indigenous groups of the state, floated Raijor Dal after earlier suggestions and pleas for a united regional front by the peasant organisation's leader, Akhil Gogoi, apparently did not find favourable response from the AASU-floated party.

Incidentally, Raijor Dal is the fourth political party to be floated in Assam in recent months. All the four parties which claim to be regional outfits have staunchly opposed the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in the run-up to their formation.