AGP’s Plan of New Students’ Union a Clear Indication of Rift with AASU?

Guwahati, September 29, 2019:

Assam's biggest regional party, the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), has planned to launch its separate Students’ Union to attract the youths of Assam and strengthen its base in the state. This decision clearly hints at the rift with the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU).

The AGP was part of the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU), and had formed the government after the Assam Accord in 1985. AASU, back in those days, had displayed a strong sentiment of students’ politics, which gradually seemed to lose its charm.

AGP President and Agriculture Minister, Atul Bora said that the party had felt the need to have a students’ union time and again and therefore, the decision of launching the new wing had finally been taken.

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This is a clear indication of the regional party’s discontentment regarding AASU. Moreover, the ideological gap between the AGP and AASU seems to be widening. The AGP's alliance with the BJP, for instance, was condemned on view of the ushering in of the Citizenship (Amendement) Bill. Although the AGP withdrew support from the coalition, the would soon forge a pre-poll alliance with the BJP in the run-up to the 2019 General elections.

The regional party’s new wing will add on to the three major students’ unions in the state – All Assam Students’ Union (AASU), National Students Union of India (NSUI) and Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). It plans to take active part in students’ politics across colleges and universities. AGP is hopeful to witness better days with the new plan of introducing a Students’ Union.

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AGP General Secretary, Manoj Saikia, while speaking with Inside Northeast, said, “Since all other parties have their respective students’ organisations, we are also planning to have our own.” He, however, mentioned that the AGP would discuss the matter soon and after finalizing on the procedures, make a formal announcement.

AGP’s students’ wing, when introduced, will aim to revive the party’s presence in the political scene. It will contest the elections in the various colleges and universities, along with AASU, NSUI and ABVP, across Assam.

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