Mahanta retained as AGP president

NAGAON, January 31: Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta has been re-elected unopposed as the president of the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) today. Meanwhile, the subject committee meet of the AGP formed a three member penal to select the other office-bearers. The members of the committee are Ramendra Narayan Kalita, Prabin Sarma and Harshabahadur Bishwakarma. The other office-bearers of the new committee are likely to be selected later tonight. Earlier, worried over slow progress due to the perennial insurgency problem, the four-day conference of the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) appealed to the insurgent groups to come to the negotiation table in the greater interest of the State. The general council meeting of the party, which was held at the Nagaon Indoor Stadium here today, also appealed to the people to join hands with the Government in resolving the militancy problem. The meeting also adopted altogether 11 resolutions. The party has resolved to favour decentralisation of power in order to ensure the all-round development of the State. On the other hand, on the Assam Accord, the meeting expressed deep anguish over the dilly-dallying tactics of the Centre and decided to put pressure on the BJP-led Government to implement the accord as early as possible. The meeting also opined that both the BJP and the Congress want to linger the foreigners' issue for their narrow political gains and warned them not to politicise the issue. It also decided to set up a minority cell to improve the base of the party among the minority community. The meeting also discussed in detail about the growing unemployment problem of the State and demanded of the Centre immediate cancellation of the memorandum of understanding which was signed a few months back. It also demanded opening of trade routes with the neighbouring countries to facilitate border trade. The meeting also said that the landlocked nature of the Northeast has proved to be a major problem and has impeded the path of import and export and hence the Centre should initiate steps in this regard. The conference also demanded that the Centre should prepare an economic programme for the unemployed youths and the development of the State. Later, addressing a press conference here, AGP president and Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta said that the conference was going on smoothly without any hindrance. Refuting the news item regarding boycotting of the conference by some minority MLAs, he said that they have been cooperating and the news item was not based on fact. Mahanta also urged the people to joint hands with the AGP-led Government in carrying out development activities. Meanwhile, the leadership of the AGP has failed to take a final decision on future alliance with the BJP due to sharp differences among the members. The alliance issue was discussed in the central executive committee meeting of the party but several senior members opposed the proposed alliance apprehending that it would dilute the regional character of the party. The members, particularly those from lower Assam districts, opined that instead of forging alliance with the BJP, the party should contest alone. According to party sources, with the strong opposition of the members, the meeting could not arrive at a concrete decision. The meeting which continued till the wee hours today, also favoured a detailed discussion on the issue keeping in view the forthcoming Assembly elections. What is more interesting is that the meeting decided to create five new posts of joint secretaries to accommodate the members in the new committee. The move was initiated in order to gear up the party for the ensuing elections and to satisfy the members who were aspirants for the post of secretary.