In dropping of Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, AGP leadership invokes win ability criteria

While Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) president Atul Bora emphasised on the win ability in allotting party tickets, the regional party is all set to split once again as it founders president Prafulla Kumar Mahanta set to contest from his bastion Barhampur seat.

Minister Sum Ronghang on Sunday joined the opposition Congress. He was denied ticket by BJP and is likely to Congress candidate from Diphu constituency

Asom Gana Parishad (Progressive), a faction of the AGP which was defunct, is now being revived. Mahanta is likely to head the AGP-P. The party has started parleys with the Congress led Grand alliance for seats.


Bora said, “Win ability is a criterion for getting party tickets. Mahanta has not exercised his democratic rights in 2019 Lok Sabha polls. He also has health issues.”

Mahanta the two-time chief minister has been winning continuously from Barhampur since 1985.

Another prominent AGP leader Brindaban Goswami is not given a ticket from Tezpur. Goswami has announced he will contest from Tezpur and the name AGP will be there from the party which he will contest.

Mahanta has been opposing Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and in the last five years attacked BJP despite being in coalition. Contrary to the party's stand he has expressed satisfaction over the outcome of the National Register of Citizens (NRC).

AGP on Sunday declared a list of eight candidates. AGP will contest 26 seats and in four seats will be engaged in a friendly contest. Bora said, “Coalition is all about give and take. “

BJP’s state unit party chief Ranjit Kumar Dass said, “We have left sitting MLA seat of Chabua and AGP has left Barhampur seat.”