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AGP concern over govt move

By Staff reporter

GUWAHATI, May 13 � The Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) today expressed its concern over the State Government�s decision to authorize the Department of Welfare of Plains Tribes and Backward Classes (WPT&BC) to conduct elections in four autonomous councils of Assam.

Expressing doubts over the evenhandedness of the forthcoming elections in Sonowal, Thengal, Deori and Tiwa autonomous councils, the party said that it is for the first time that elections would be conducted under the supervision of a government department instead of the Central or State Election Commission.

The polls are scheduled to be held in 11 administrative districts of the State on June 7.

Addressing a press meet here, AGP leader Sarbananda Sonowal asked the State government to ensure free, fair and transparent elections in all the autonomous councils.

The party also expressed its readiness to have discussions with the anti-Congress forces for the elections, without naming any particular party.

�We do not want to name any political party, yet we are ready to talk to the like-minded anti-Congress parties to defeat the Congress in council elections,� Sonowal said, terming the Congress as the �sole enemy in the electoral battle.� He however, refused to comment on the AGP�s alliance with the BJP.

Flaying the ruling party for not giving adequate attention to the genuine problems of the Sonowals, Thengals, Deoris and Tiwas, he added that various students� and women�s groups and other community organizations of the four communities have not been taken into confidence by the State government in deciding the constituencies.

�It is seen that the government has included several non-Sonowal villages in Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts, to enhance the prospects of the Congress� candidates, he said and demanded that proper voters� lists should be brought out to rule out the possibilities of group clashes in such areas.

The party has formed four different committees under the veteran AGP leaders to look after the council elections.

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