Asom Gana Parishad splits from BJP in Assam

GUWAHATI - The regional Asom Gana Parishad (Assam Peoples Association) party broke its alliance with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), ahead of the State polls in 2011.

BJP State President Ranjit Dutta said that it was the decision of the AGP to snap all ties with them.

“We did not break the alliance. It has been broken by Asom Gana Parishad (Assam Peoples Association). People will express their views in the upcoming Assembly polls in 2011,” Dutta said on Wednesday.

He also said that their party was aware of the decision and were mentally prepared for it.

The BJP will now fight the elections independently in the state.

The two parties became allies in 2001 and continued to be so during the last Lok Sabha elections.

Local media reports said that the AGP is looking for tie-up with other smaller parties.

Reportedly, the AGP began losing its identity after the loss in 2006 State polls, local council elections and the parliamentary polls, as well as in the by-elections in 2009. By Peter Alex Todd (ANI)