Himanta dares all anti-BJP forces to unite to fight BJP in Assam polls

GUWAHATI: Taking yet another jibe at the Congress’s alliance, North East Democratic Alliance convenor Himanta Biswa Sarma today dared all the opposition parties to come together and fight the BJP united in the Assam Assembly elections in March-April.

Talking to newsmen after distributing appointment letters to 4511 newly recruited teachers, Sarma suggested that the All Assam Students’ Union-backed Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) and the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti-backed Raijor Dal should also join the Congress-All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) alliance and give a united fight against the BJP in Assam.

“I suggest AJP and Raijor Dal should also join the Congress-AIUDF alliance. Although I should not suggest them that Lurinjyoti Gogoi (AJP), Akhil Gogoi (Raijor Dal), Hagrama Mohilary (Bodoland People’s Front), Congress, AIUDF and all others should come together. I would also suggest parties such as LDP (Liberal Democratic Party) and all others should also join the alliance. Else, someone or the other will brand those left out as the B team of the BJP,” the senior cabinet minister said.

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“My views are sometimes similar with those of Ajit Bhuyan. All other parties opposed to the BJP, including national parties as well, should share the same platform in the fight against the BJP. If Lurinjyoti Ggooi goes on addressing AJP election meetings at Hajo or Goroimari, it will help only the BJP, because it will lead to division of only Congress votes there. And, someone will accuse you of having a clandestine understanding with the chief minster or me. We want to stay away from such allegations,” the seasoned BJP campaigner said.

Despite repeated pleas from the Congress and Anchalik Gana Morcha leaders Ajit Bhuyan and Hiren Gohain among others, the AJP and the Raijor Dal have opted to stay away from the six-party alliance. The two newly floated regional parties have claimed to have forged a third alliance among themselves with a hope to capitalise on the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act 2019 sentiment of the Brahmaputra Valley.