BJP hints at fighting Assam polls on its own

GUWAHATI - The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Tuesday hinted at fighting next year’s assembly elections in Assam on its own and claimed it would put up a better performance compared to the past.

“We are keen on going alone and putting up a good show in the elections with the help of the youth of Assam,” party MP and newly-appointed election in-charge for Assam, Varun Gandhi told journalists.

Gandhi arrived in Guwahati on a three-day visit, aimed at chalking out strategies for the 2011 assembly polls.

“Definitely broad strategies would be worked out during his stay,” BJP MP from Guwahati Bijoya Chakraborty told IANS.

Gandhi addressed a training camp of BJP youth leaders soon after his arrival.

“I want to take the youth of Assam along with me to bolster the party’s prospects,” he said.

“Varun Gandhi’s visit would surely inspire and attract the younger generation towards the BJP. The enthusiasm of the youths was evident the moment he landed here,” Chakraborty said.

Meanwhile, Assam’s main opposition Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) Tuesday claimed to have finalised a regional front comprising smaller parties to fight the poll.

“We have almost concluded discussions for a regional front comprising smaller regional parties, although we are keeping options open for seat adjustments with some national parties (meaning Left parties),” AGP president Chandra Mohan Patowary told IANS.

The AGP had pre-poll understanding with the BJP in the 2001 assembly polls and again in the parliamentary elections last year - the AGP-BJP combine was routed by the Congress party in 2001, while in the parliamentary elections, the AGP fared poorly although the BJP managed to up its tally at the expense of the regional party.

“We are committed to working towards overall development of the state if given the mandate,” Patowary said.