The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP,) on the 13th of March, formed an alliance in Assam, ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
Ram Madhav, a senior BJP leader, addressed the media and said, “After a prolonged discussion with senior AGP leaders, we have decided to work together for the Lok Sabha election in Assam to defeat the Congress. The Bodoland People’s Front will be the third partner in the alliance.”
The decision was said to be taken to ensure the victory of the BJP in the ensuing Lok Sabha elections in the State, against the opposition, the Indian National Congress (INC.)
Atul Bora, the President of the AGP, said, we have form an alliance on the request of the BJP.
Speaking about the differences with the Central Government over the Citizenship Amendment Bill, Jayanta Malla Baruah, the spokesperson of the BJP, said, the alliance was made after discussing the stand of the AGP on the Citizenship Bill. The BJP also said, if the BJP comes to power, they will reintroduce the bill.
Recently, the State ministers and citizens of Assam were protesting against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019.
The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill promises citizenship to individuals belonging to communities such as the Sikhs, the Hindus, the Jains, the Buddhists, the Christians and the Parsis from countries like Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan.
The main agenda of the alliance is to defeat the INC, which already kickstarted a campaign in the State.
Pradyut Bordoloi, the spokesperson of the INC, criticised the alliance between the BJP and AGP and said, it is the end of regionalism in Assam.
Assam will contest a total of 14 seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, scheduled on the 11th, 18th and 23rd of April 2019.
The major parties contesting the Lok Sabha elections are the INC and the BJP.
The results of the elections will be announced on the 23rd of May 2019.
Stay tuned for further updates about the Lok Sabha elections.
