NEW DELHI, May 21 - In a frank admission, Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) president and State Minister Atul Bora has conceded that winning the three Lok Sabha seats may be tough for the regional party.
Interacting with newsmen here on Tuesday, Bora, accompanied by State Minister Keshab Mahanta, said they were given tough seats which had a different population pattern. �It was a tough election,� admitted Bora who is here to participate in the NDA meet.
�We have been invited to take part in the meeting of the NDA partners. Today, we will learn about the political scenario from other NDA partners. We have seen the exit polls, but sometimes they are accurate, sometimes not. However, it is clear that NDA will come to power. The number of seats may vary,� he said.
�We have put up a tough fight in all the three Lok Sabha seats given to us. We are hopeful of winning the seats,� claimed Bora.
However, Bora added that the three Lok Sabha constituencies were difficult seats for AGP and BJP. The population pattern, for instance, in Dhubri and Barpeta seats, is totally different. Had Congress not come to an understanding with AIUDF, the results would have been different,� said Bora.
�When we joined the alliance we broadly came to an understanding on certain issues. We were told that a Rajya Sabha seat would be given to us when two seats fall vacant in June. We are hopeful of getting one seat,� he said.
�We had discussed all issues with the Central leadership of the BJP and State Minister and NEDA chairman Himanta Biswa Sarma was also present during the deliberations, though he later denied it. However, we have got assurance from the Central leadership,� said Bora.
�When we forged an alliance in 2016, certain understandings were finalised and Rajya Sabha seat was one such issue. As we do not have any representation in Parliament, we conveyed that we wanted a Rajya Sabha seat. BPF has also been promised a seat and we are hopeful that we will get one seat,� said Mahanta.
