GUWAHATI, Oct 5 - The Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) may soon face a severe jolt as a senior member of the party and legislator Padma Hazarika is likely to switch over to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) soon. However, Hazarika said that he would announce his decision on whether to shift to the BJP only after detailed discussion with the party workers.
Hazarika told The Assam Tribune today that he would announce his decision only after October 15. He admitted that he had preliminary talks with the leaders of the BJP, �but till today, I am a member of the AGP and I have not given any assurance to the BJP leaders.�
The AGP legislator said that he has some dissatisfaction over the functioning of the AGP. He revealed that he is having meetings with the local level committees of the AGP in Sootea constituency, which he represents. He has so far held talks with 12 of the 19 local committees of the AGP in the constituency and all the members supported the idea of switching over to the BJP. However, he will finalise his decision only after completing the process of talks with all the local committees.
Hazarika was first elected to the Assam Assembly in 1996 in an AGP ticket. Though he lost in 2001, he was re-elected again in 2006 and 2011. In 2007, he had a narrow escape when militants belonging to the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) attacked him for raising his voice against militancy in Sonitpur district.
The AGP now has only nine members in the 126-member House and its strength will reduce further if Hazarika quits the party.
