HT Correspondent
JORHAT, Feb 10: The Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) on Tuesday formally launched its election campaign in the Teok Assembly constituency with a Sankalp Samaroh (pledge ceremony), holding a massive public rally near the National Highway at Charingia that was widely viewed as a show of strength ahead of the forthcoming Assembly elections.
The rally, attended by the party’s central leadership, made it clear that while the AGP’s alliance with the BJP remains intact, the regional party will field its own candidate in the Teok constituency.
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Addressing the gathering, AGP president and Assam minister Atul Bora urged people to strengthen the regional party, saying this was essential to safeguard regionalism and ensure the security and identity of the Assamese nation.
Bora said the central pledge of the meeting was to reinforce the AGP, adding that empowering the party would strengthen regionalism and protect indigenous identity.
He said the AGP has been striving to implement the Assam Accord in full, fulfil the aspirations of the martyrs of the Assam Movement and resolve the state’s ethnic and national issues.
He also said unemployment cannot be addressed only through government jobs, and that the party is working on long-term plans to create income opportunities for every household.
Stressing that political power is necessary to realise such commitments, Bora said nationalism would always remain alive in the hearts of the people of Assam.
Recalling the legacy of late Assam Movement leader Lalit Rajkhowa, Bora pointed out that AGP candidates have been winning the Teok seat continuously since 2016.
He said that following constituency delimitation, Teok now comprises 14 panchayats from Dergaon and seven from Jorhat, making it a larger constituency, and called upon party workers to intensify campaigning with renewed enthusiasm.
Describing the AGP as a secular party, Bora asserted that indigenous people would never be allowed to become marginalised in their own land.
Criticising the Congress, he alleged that the party had once tried to undermine the Assam Movement but was rejected by the people’s nationalist resolve.
He claimed the opposition currently lacks unity and has lost much of its influence.
Referring to recent controversies, Bora questioned why people should vote for a party whose president allegedly maintains links with a hostile foreign nation, adding that remarks attributed to Gaurav Gogoi had raised serious suspicions.
He termed the allegations involving the son of former chief minister Tarun Gogoi as unfortunate and said he felt personally embarrassed by the issue.
Also addressing the rally, AGP working president and minister Keshab Mahanta described Upper Assam as the heartland of regionalism and nationalism, saying the people of the state have always honoured the 860 martyrs of the Assam Movement.
He criticised the formation of a new regional party and termed its reported alliance with a party allegedly responsible for the deaths of the martyrs as deeply unfortunate.
Mahanta said the AGP, along with its allies, has worked to preserve history by building memorials for the martyrs and asserted that the party has never compromised on its principles.
While acknowledging the AGP’s alliance with the BJP since 2016, he said the party has never compromised on self-respect.
He urged voters in Teok to uphold regionalism in the coming elections and expressed confidence that the AGP would increase its seat tally, calling for the Congress to be decisively defeated.
The Sankalp Samaroh was organised by the AGP Jorhat district unit in coordination with the Teok constituency committee and was chaired by district president Saurav Pran Bora.
Central committee leader Bikash Saikia delivered the welcome address. Several senior leaders, including central vice-presidents Hiranya Konwar, Putul Baruah, Tulsi Gogoi and Nurul Sultan, along with district representatives and party functionaries from across Upper Assam, were present.
