Mahanta to initiate talk on poll alliance

GUWAHATI, April 1: Decks have been cleared for the possible electoral alliance between AGP and BJP as the Asam Gana Parishad executive committee this evening authorised the party president to initiate discussions with like-minded parties. Biren Baishya, AGP spokesman, said that the party executive in a resolution adopted in the meet expressed confidence of facing the ensuing Assembly elections on its own. However, in order to wipe the Congress out of the political arena of Assam, AGP president and Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta has been authorised to initiate talks on the issue of poll alliance with like-minded parties and also to formulate poll strategy. The issue was discussed in detail in today's party executive and the general body of the party will meet tomorrow morning at the Ambari party head office to further discuss the possible poll pact with BJP and other like-minded parties, Baishya informed. Meanwhile, according to an informed source, the BJP in its move to make electoral alliance with the AGP, has proposed that both the parties should contest 55 seats each and the remaining seats in the State Assembly should be distributed among the other alliance parties. Now, it will be interesting to see whether the AGP general body which is meeting tomorrow morning will accept the proposal or not.