Assam: BJP doesn’t want its ally AGP to do all that well

BJP poll managers are keeping their fingers crossed about Assam, where opinion polls have predicted the saffron party-led alliance will come to power. While the poll predictions have brought cheer to the saffron camp, the BJP leadership is also worried about ally Asom Gana Parishad’s performance.

The BJP leadership, it was learnt, is not in a mood to give in to AGP’s “greater bargaining power” in case the former doesn’t get a clear majority. The BJP’s past experiences with the AGP are something the saffron party doesn’t want repeated and also knows it was the regional party’s “second choice”. The Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) is also part of the BJP-led alliance in the state. The AGP is a junior partner in the alliance and a majority section within this regional party did not want to ally with the BJP.

Sources disclosed that the BJP’s own feedback gives it anywhere between 50 and 58 seats, but the party hopes the AGP does not win more than 10 to 11 seats. There are 126 Assembly constituencies in the state and the AGP had contested 24 seats. Knowing well the AGP’s functioning, BJP poll managers are apprehensive that if the party doesn’t get a clear majority, it will have to depend on the AGP, giving the latter greater bargaining power. BJP chief ministerial candidate Sarbanand Sonowal himself was in the AGP before joining the BJP in 2011. Though Mr Sonowal is very popular in the state, the BJP leadership doesn’t want a “Maharashtra situation” where ally Shiv Sena never misses a chance to criticise the ally or the BJP chief minister.

Counting for the two-phase Assembly elections in Assam will be held on May 19.