AGP to ‘explore its roots’ in search of people’s mandate on 2026 poll alliance

Guwahati: Responding to CM Himanta Biswa Sarma’s recent witty remarks that AGP is free to “explore its roots” and reconsider its alliances, AGP president Atul Bora said the party would indeed seek to understand its roots and align with the people’s mandate regarding alliances.However, Sarma clarified on Tuesday that the BJP-AGP alliance will remain intact for the upcoming elections, although adjustments in seat-sharing between the two NDA allies are expected.“I thank the CM for his greetings. AGP is an old ally of BJP. Every political party is independent and democratic, whether it’s BJP or AGP. So, every party wants to maintain its uniqueness, and AGP is not an exception because the sentiment of party workers needs to be prioritised," Bora stated in Bokakhat.

He added that like BJP, AGP will also explore its roots. “Like the CM said, everything (regarding alliance) will be decided by the people,” he said.Despite Sarma’s initial remarks, he later softened his stance, affirming that the BJP-AGP alliance would remain intact for the 2026 assembly polls, although changes in seat-sharing arrangements between the two NDA allies are anticipated. However, Bora mentioned that it was too early to make a final comment on alliances.

During AGP’s recent chintan baithak, the party’s organisational activities were thoroughly discussed by the central leadership, district leaders, and MLAs. Party insiders indicated that AGP aims to strengthen itself to contest and win in 60 out of 126 seats, despite only contesting 26 seats in the 2021 assembly polls as an NDA ally. The meeting also reviewed the BTC election, where Hagrama Mohilary’s BPF won without a pre-poll alliance with BJP, later receiving BJP support to form the council in BTC.A senior party leader, speaking anonymously, mentioned that many grassroots workers and district leaders had “bitter experiences” with BJP, though the alliance hasn’t been nullified. “In recent elections, some AGP leaders had to contest in seats with low winning prospects for the NDA and were defeated. AGP was given minority-inhabited seats, difficult for BJP to win. There’s a growing opinion to reclaim seats in central and upper Assam where AGP has a winning history,” the leader said.Sources within AGP revealed that some grassroots workers are hesitant to relinquish their strongholds to BJP. A senior AGP leader said many workers are inclined to contest the 2026 polls independently, distancing themselves from the Hindutva agenda promoted by some BJP leaders.AGP has faced criticism for allegedly “surrendering” to BJP. Recently, Satyabrata Kalita, a general secretary of AGP, resigned and joined Congress after realising he wouldn’t receive a ticket for the Kamalpur seat in Kamrup, which was allocated to BJP in the last election as part of the seat-sharing agreement.