Mahanta to float new party by September

He termed his expulsion from AGP as 'illegal'.

Expelled founder-leader of Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) Prafulla Kumar Mahanta on Thursday said he would float a new outfit by next month.

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He asked all "secular parties" to come together to defeat the ruling Congress in the state.

"Efforts were on to launch a new party by September," he told reporters after a meeting with former Meghalaya Chief Minister and United Democratic Party leader E Mawlong.

Ahead of the Assam Assembly elections due next year, Mahanta who is garnering support of like minded parties quipped "you know what Congress is", when asked if Congress was not a secular party.

Mahanta termed his expulsion from AGP as 'illegal' and attributed it to the "personal political aspirations of some individuals".

On the scrapping of IMDT Act in Assam, he said 'genuine' Indian minorities would be protected and 'illegal' foreigners would be deported.

He said talks with ULFA was necessary to contain violence and there should be dialogue with the militant outfit.

Mahanta refused to elaborate the details of his discussion with Mawlong terming it only 'preliminary'.