Guwahati, 27 December (HS):
Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma said that discussions related to alliance and seat-sharing within the NDA will continue at the level of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and there is a strong possibility that such deliberations may also take place during Shah’s upcoming visit to Assam.
Speaking to the media after a BJP core committee meeting held at the state party office last night, the Chief Minister clarified that no formal discussion on alliance arrangements will take place before February 15, although some informal understanding has already been reached among the allies.
Dr Sarma reiterated that both the Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) and the United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL) are partners of the NDA. However, he pointed out that it is not feasible for both BPF and UPPL to remain together at the same level in all constituencies, and a new political equation will have to be worked out. He also categorically stated that neither BPF nor UPPL will align with the Congress or any other party.
On seat-sharing with the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), the Chief Minister said that the BJP-AGP alliance of 2021 will be taken as the base year for negotiations. He asserted that a national party like the BJP never gives up constituencies where it has sitting MLAs.
The core committee meeting was held in the presence of BJP National Executive President Nitin Navin, during which organizational and political strategies were discussed.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash
