NEW DELHI, March 3 - It seems to be the end of the road for the BJP-AGP alliance in Assam, with the saffron party ruling out the possibility of any re-think on the issue.
On a high ever since the air strike in Pakistan, the BJP, in a new found confidence, has decided to finally close the chapter on its alliance with the Asom Gana Parishad.
A top BJP leader told The Assam Tribune that there was no possibility of the saffron party aligning again with the AGP. More than the regional party�s stand on the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, the BJP is more upset with the AGP for cosying up to the rival Congress.
�They (AGP) leaders are running around and trying to stitch an alliance with several parties, including the Congress,� the BJP leader said, adding that the party has been taking note of the regional party�s activities post the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill fiasco. �There is no possibility of the BJP again joining hands with the AGP,� he said.
However, what has kept the option alive for the AGP is that Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has not yet forwarded the resignation letters of then ministers Atul Bora, Keshab Mahanta and Phani Bhusan Choudhury to the Governor for acceptance. In the Assembly though, the sitting arrangement of the trio has been changed.
On January 7, the AGP pulled out of the BJP-led coalition government in protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, saying that its �last-ditch attempt� to convince the Centre to withdraw the proposed legislation failed.
The Sonowal-led government, however, faces no threat as the BJP has 61 MLAs,
besides the support of 12 members of the Bodoland People�s Front (BPF) and the sole Independent legislator. The AGP has 14 MLAs.
Meanwhile, sources in the Congress said that the party was keen to tie up with the AGP, and leaders of the two parties have been holding informal parleys.
When asked about the BJP-AGP alliance, the Chief Minister on Saturday declined to comment on the issue. On the recent hooch tragedy, he said that the State government has directed the Upper Assam Commissioner to find out the culprits and both the civil and police administration were trying their best. Whoever is found guilty will be given exemplary punishment, he asserted.
