Senior leaders of the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) recently held discussions with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Nitin Nabin in New Delhi. The meeting, post the Assam Assembly elections, focused on future coordination within the BJP-led alliance. AGP President Atul Bora and Working President Keshab Mahanta were part of the talks, emphasizing the significance of AGP’s alliance with the BJP under the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) framework.
The AGP contested 26 seats in the recent Assam Assembly elections as part of the NDA’s seat-sharing arrangement. Meanwhile, the BJP fielded candidates in 89 constituencies, and the Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) in 11 seats. This election structure mirrors the coalition formula seen in previous polls, with AGP concentrating on specific Assembly constituencies where it has a strong organizational presence.
AGP’s performance in the current elections is closely monitored, especially following its success in the 2021 Assembly polls. In 2021, AGP secured nine victories out of the 26 seats it contested, contributing to the NDA’s total of 75 seats in the 126-member Assam Assembly. This outcome reaffirmed AGP’s role as a significant ally within the alliance.
Despite a decline in its electoral influence over the years, AGP retains a stronghold in parts of Upper Assam and among certain indigenous voter segments. Its partnership with the BJP remains pivotal to its electoral strategy in recent times. The meeting between AGP and BJP leaders is seen as part of the ongoing efforts by NDA allies to maintain unity and strategize for upcoming political challenges, as the final results of the Assam Assembly elections are awaited.
