Guwahati: Former chief minister and AGP heavyweight leader Prafulla Kumar Mahanta here on Thursday said that decision to rejoin the BJP led alliance was not the decision of the AGP but a section of party leaders unilaterally decided to join the government.

Expressing his deep anguish over the alleged undemocratic decision of the present leadership of the party, Mr Mahanta said that present leadership of the party has not only ignored highest decision making body of the party but also went against the wish of the people. Mr Mahanta who is among the founding leaders of the party said that a section of party leaders are now conspiring to split the party and isolate him. “We have been asking the party leadership to convene a general house meeting of the party to take the view of all the grassroots workers but some power-hungry leaders chose to ignore it,” said Mr Mahanta adding, “We were opposed to this alliance as AGP being a regional party should have contested the Lok Sabha polls with the aim to strengthen the party at the grassroots for 2021 assembly polls.”

Ruling out the possibility of any split in the party, Mr Mahanta said, “The AGP is peoples party and we believe that grassroots workers will not allow it to happen.”

Asking the party workers to take a call, Mr Mahanta said, “We still hope that they will reconsider this decision and discuss the matter with all the party leaders by convening a general body meeting of the party.”

Mr Mahanta regretted that decision of a section of party leaders has also come as serious embarrassment for those political leaders who stood with them in opposing the citizenship amendment bill. Referring that BJP has refused to change its stand on citizenship bill, Mr Mahanta said, “This Bill is against the basic principles of Assam Accord and we had opposed it to protect the interest of Assam and Assamese.”

Mr Mahanta also clarified that he was not looking for any post or position in the party or the government.