Team Anna member Akhil Gogoi to remain agitator, shelved plans of launching political party

GUWAHATI: With his comdres, Arvind Kejriwal and Kiran Bedi pitted against each other in the Delhi polls, former Team Anna member Akhil Gogoi shelved plans of launching political outfit.

Gogoi has earlier announced that he will launch a political party to contest 2016 assembly polls and will emerge as an alternative to mainstream political parties like Congress, BJP besides regional political parties, Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF).

Talking to ET, RTI activist Akhil said that both Bedi and Kejriwal have failed and anti corruption movement did not go to parliament or assembly as it was expected rather it got weakened. “From experience of collogues we have learnt and now decided not take part in the electoral politics.”

Gogoi said he has decided to strengthen Anna Hazare’s movement rather than fighting assembly polls.

“Political parties are not interested in fighting corruption. Despite Kejriwal winning in New Delhi during the last assembly polls, anti corruption movement did not got strengthened rather it got weakened and those fighting corruption joining politics has weakened the anti corruption movement.”

President of peasant organization, Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) which is constituent of National Alliance of People’s Movement (NAPM) said, “Agitators should not join politics. This is not good for the country, the fight against corruption has lost steam as several people fighting corruption has joined politics. Agitators must refrain from politics.

He added that Anna Hazare will come to Assam on March 22 where he will launch a movement. “It time to strengthen Anna once again, the anti corruption movement has suffered severe jolts. It is not the time of joining the electoral politics. The country needs Anna and relevance of Anna has become more now.”

Akhil has been a vocal critic of Tarun Gogoi led congress government in Assam. KMSS which claims to have membership of 13 lakh cadres has campaigned against congress during the last Lok Sabha polls. It has supported candidature of some BJP candidates.

However Akhil is now frequently tongue lashing Prime minister, Narendra Modi especially after the BJP government’s nod to Indo-Bangladesh land swap deal.