GUWAHATI, Oct 16 - As part of efforts to conduct mass outreach and create a common platform in the run-up to the 2021 Assembly elections, the Congress and the Left parties have decided to hit the streets of Assam together by undertaking a series of �joint agitation programmes� against the policies of the BJP-led Central and State governments.
The aim is to build up �mass mobilisation� against the BJP by �hitting the streets� with joint protest rallies, sit-ins and demonstrations across the State, according to leaders of the Congress and the Left.
�We are working on preparing a calendar for holding just joint programmes. We will go zone-wise so that all regions of the State, including upper Assam, central Assam, lower Assam, the hill districts and the Barak Valley, can be covered one by one. During such events, the Congress and the Left parties will agitate on common issues of concern,� a senior Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) office-bearer told this newspaper on Friday.
He added that efforts are on to hold the first such event at Sivasagar around October 20, but there may be a slight delay due to time factor.
�Afterwards, similar joint agitation programmes will be held at other places across Assam after the Durga Puja,� sources added.
Meanwhile, APCC president Ripun Bora said the Congress is willing to work with all the parties who are opposed to the BJP and efforts are on to bring more parties into the fold of the proposed �grand alliance�.
�The Congress and the Left have arrived at a consensus that the need of the hour is to oust the BJP from power. Our parties agree that we should fight as part of a common platform,� he said.
Asked if the Congress, as leader of the proposed alliance, has approached the Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) and the Raijor Dal, Bora said, �We want all the anti-BJP parties to come under one umbrella. Elections are still some months away. We will try till the last moment to bring the AJP and the Raijor Dal to our side.�
He added that talks regarding seat sharing between the prospective partners of the proposed grand alliance have not started.
�Till now our discussions have mainly focused on issues of policies and principles. Seat sharing will come at a later stage,� Bora said.
On being contacted, CPI Assam State Council secretary Munin Mahanta said, �There is a proposal to approach the Anchalik Gana Mancha led by Ajit Bhuyan and invite them to join hands with us. The need of the hour is to expose the BJP�s misdeeds. We want to go out among the masses with some common agenda and issues and get their reaction before sitting down for seat sharing talks.�
It is noteworthy that the Congress has already held formal �alliance building� talks with the CPI, the CPI(M) and the CPI(ML) Liberation.
Sources, however, added that the AIUDF which recently gave its nod to the grand alliance proposal, has so far not been invited to be part of the Congress-Left joint agitation programme.
