A Party of One?

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Mr Brindaban Goswami, former president of the Asom Gana Parishard (AGP), is reported to be planning to start a new regional political party of his own. The pertinent question that arises is: who does he honestly think will join his new political party? One has only to reflect on the period between 2001 and now to appreciate how badly he pulled the AGP down. In fact, to any observer who was looking at the party only during that period, it would seem that he was following an agenda for the AGP set by the Congress. He got Prafulla Mahanta out of the party and provoked him to start a new one called the AGP (Progressive). That it did not progress at all, is another story with which we need not bother now. What is of great significance is that Goswami not only managed to split the AGP but also to run it down by failing to initiate any action by which the party could hope to take on the Congress in the Assembly elections of 2006. All that people saw was internecine strife, scheming to get someone out and a total failure to reach the grassroots party cadres and to motivate them. So, when Mr Goswami starts a new party, he will probably find that he has no one in it but himself. source: sentinel assam editorial

AGP to walk out of UNPA over SP stand

From Our Special Correspondent NEW DELHI, July 5 – The Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) is likely to come out of the United National Progressive Alliance (UNPA) if the Samajwadi Party remains a member of it. Addressing a Press conference here today, AGP president Brindaban Goswami said that the stand of the AGP is very clear on the issue of staying with the UNPA and asserted that it would be forced to come out of the alliance if the Samajwadi Party, which is likely to extend support to the Congress, remains one of its constituents. He said that the AGP was holding talks on the issue with the other regional parties in the Alliance in this regard.Replying to a question on the possibility of the AGP forging an alliance with the BJP for the ensuing Lok Sabha polls, Goswami said that the regional party has been talking with different parties. He said that the main aim of the AGP is to form a common platform of the opposition parties to defeat the Congress.However, other office bearers of the AGP including Birendra Prasad Baishya, Kumar Deepak Das and Nurul Hussain, who were present in the Press conference, said that the AGP would not forge an alliance with the BJP and the party might only go for seat sharing. source: assam tribune

Truce by ULFA faction alone will not bring peace: Brindaban

Truce by ULFA faction alone will not bring peace: Brindaban

From Our Correspondent SIVASAGAR, June 28 – While welcoming the willingness of a section of ULFA cadres for the ceasefire, AGP president Brindaban Goswami said here on Friday that it will not bring permanent peace to the State. Besides, the AGP does not approve of the coarcive means alleged to have been adopted by the present government.Referring to the on-going Army operations, Goswami said that it is heart rending to see bullet-riddled bodies of Assamese youths in the fields or in streets. Obviously, the security agencies need to be retrained at once. Internecine bloodshed should be avoided at any cost, he appealed and a conducive atmosphere for peace must be created.Goswami categorically denied that DGP was a spent force, rather he said it managed to win support of not less than 31 lakh voters in the last general elections and it will bounce back with rescued vigour in the next Parliamentary elections. He said, he was hopeful of unification of all factions of AGP and likeminded regional parties, but the final outcome of the on-going unification move will depend on the report of the committee instituted for the purpose.Further, the AGP strategy for the next Parliamentary elections will depend on the report of the 11 field committees formed in 11 Parliamentary authorities.The leader of the Opposition came down heavily on the Centre and the Congress party and said that it is the years of misrule by the Congress party that led to wanton exploitation of the State’s resources, inabated influx, ethnic violence and rise of divisive tendencies among the people of the State.He also called upon the election commission to review the election process and check rigging.Brindaban Goswami was in Sivasagar as part of his Upper Assam tour to call on the bereaved family members of former AGP leader Naren Tanti and Nitya Dutta, who died recently. source: assam tribune