Assembly by-polls 2020: CPI, CPI(ML) join hands with Congress in Assam

GUWAHATI

The Congress in Assam on Thursday announced that it joined hands with two Left parties - CPI and CPI(ML) for a united fight from the proposed platform of ‘Grand Alliance’ against the ruling BJP in the state Assembly election due next year.

Congress state unit president Ripun Bora told reporters that all the Left parties have in-principle agreed to contest the polls together.

The Congress also held a meeting with the CPI(M) on October 8, when the two parties announced that they would fight the elections together to defeat the BJP-led government.

“The BJP is the biggest threat to Assam and the Assamese people today. The need of the hour is to unite all anti-BJP forces to defeat their communal and corrupt governance,” Bora said.

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The election to the 126-member Assam Assembly is likely to be held in March-April next year. The 2016 elections gave a fractured mandate, and no party got the absolute majority.

In the current House, the BJP is the single largest party with 60 MLAs, while its allies Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and Bodoland Peoples Front (BPF) have 14 and 12 lawmakers, respectively. The ruling coalition also has the support of an Independent MLA.

Congress has 23 MLAs, while the AIUDF has 14 members.