AGP divided over candidates

Two leaders of the Asom Gana Parisad (AGP) have resigned from their organisation positions over disagreement on the selection of candidates for the assembly elections even as some others have quit the party.

Two leaders of the Asom Gana Parisad (AGP) have resigned from their organisation positions over disagreement on the selection of candidates for the assembly elections even as some others have quit the party.

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AGP has announced its candidates for 94 constituencies of the 126 in Assam. But after the announcement, the rift surfaced.

Tezpur Lok Sabha MP Joseph Topno has resigned as vice-president because he did not approve of the party’s candidate for the Dhekiajuli constituency in Sonitpur district. Former MP Arun Sarma has also resigned as vice-president as he did not accept the party’s choice for the Laximpur constituency, Utpal Dutta.

Dutta is a close aide of former chief minister Prafulla Mahanta, who had left the AGP but returned recently. He (Dutta) had campaigned against Sarma in the last Lok Sabha election in Laximpur parliamentary constituency, resulting in the latter’s defeat.

“Dissension over tickets is common in all political parties. However, it will be over and all will work for the party,” said Chandramohan Patowary, AGP president.

Former AGP minister Jatin Mali, who was denied the ticket for the Palasbari constituency, has quit the party and announced an outfit called AGP (Secular), which will contest in 85 constituencies.

In Jorhat, agitated party workers ransacked the district office on Sunday in protest against the decision on the candidate for the Teok constituency.

AGP leader Satyabrata Kalita, who was denied the candidature for Kamalpur district, has left the party with his supporters. “I was denied the ticket because of the party’s secret understanding with BJP,” Kalita alleged.