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Sonowal, several AGP leaders set to join BJP

By Spl Correspondent

NEW DELHI, Jan 2 � Buoyed by initial response, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) central leadership has convened a crucial meeting of its State leaders to firm up its election strategy for Assam.

As the State�s political parties are trying to get its act together, the BJP may lead a march over others, as an influential group of AGP leaders including former MPs and MLAs are all to switch parties and join BJP.

Though the names of probable AGP leaders have been kept under wraps, a senior BJP central leader confided that those waiting in the wings to join included Sarbananda Sonowal, another ex-MP and two prominent AGP MLAs, besides a group of AGP workers. This newspaper is withholding the names because they could not be contacted for their reactions.

Sonowal, who arrived in Delhi last evening, has already set tongues wagging, as a batch of State�s top BJP leaders have also arrived, albeit separately, to attend the core committee meeting convened by national president Nitin Gadkari. Sonowal, when contacted, told this newspaper nothing has been finalised as yet.

Meanwhile, Gadkari�s dinner meeting with State BJP leaders is slated to discuss election management, selection of candidates besides endorsing the entry of the group of AGP leaders and their supporters.

The meeting is scheduled to be attended by 12-member core committee comprising the State president, Ranjit Dutta, four MPs including Bijoya Chakravarty, Ramen Deka, Rajen Gohain and Kabindra Purkayastha, two ex-MPs, Indramani Bora and Narayan Borkotoki, besides Mission Ranjan Das, Ajit bhattacharjee, among others.

The Central leaders, who are scheduled to attend, include Arun Jaitley, Vijay Goel, Varun Gandhi and Kiran Maheswari, among others.

A problem for the BJP is also over a number of State MPs and MLAs seeking tickets for their kins. Rajen Gohain is seeking ticket for his wife, while Kabindra Purkayastha is seeking ticket for his son, said sources.

Party sources said that Sonowal has met the BJP president today and discussed the modalities of future course of action.

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