Assam Jatiya Parishad Confirms Seat-Sharing Agreement with Congress

Seat-Sharing Agreement Finalized

Guwahati, Feb 24: Following Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's announcement that discussions regarding seat-sharing between the Congress and the Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) were nearing completion, the AJP confirmed on Tuesday that the agreement has been finalized.

A senior member of the AJP revealed that the party has been allocated nine Assembly constituencies, which include Khowang, Barhampur, Binnakandi, Bajali, Dibrugarh, Sarupathar, Guwahati Central, Sadiya, and Palashbari.

Sources indicate that the Congress is also prepared to allocate one seat in Barak Valley to the AJP, with potential for further negotiations.

“We might contest in either Dhemaji or Morigaon, depending on final arrangements. If Morigaon is assigned to us, Bani Das will be our candidate. Conversely, if we secure Dhemaji, Chitranjan Basumatary is expected to be fielded,” the AJP official stated.

Reports suggest that AJP president Lurinjyoti Gogoi is likely to run from Khowang in Dibrugarh.

In Barhampur, the party is considering candidates Rajen Gohain and Shyamanta Kashyap, the son of former Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta. “We have finalized candidates for most constituencies,” the official added.

While the Congress-AJP arrangement seems largely settled, tensions remain within the broader Opposition coalition, particularly with Raijor Dal.

Raijor Dal has expressed interest in Naoboicha, but the Congress is reportedly willing to offer seats in Digboi, Sissiborgaon, Sivasagar, Mariani, Bokakhat, Tezpur, Dalgaon, and Manas to the party, according to sources from Raijor Dal.

Additionally, the Congress has suggested “friendly contests” in Mankachar, Margherita, and East Goalpara.

“Among our alliance partners, the Congress is ready to allocate Diphu and Amri to the APHLC, Goreswar, Sarbhog, and Bhabanipur to the CPI(M), and Bihali to the CPI(ML),” a Raijor Dal representative disclosed.

The seat-sharing discussions occur amidst visible tensions. On Monday, Chief Minister Sarma had asserted that the Congress-AJP alliance was a “done-deal”, naming seats like Binnakandi, Khowang, Barhampur, and Sadiya as likely allocations for the AJP.

Raijor Dal president Akhil Gogoi acknowledged the existing tensions within the Opposition coalition.

“There is a dispute over a few seats. Currently, we are facing a conflict. There have been disagreements regarding general secretary Alok Nath, who has been assigned Tezpur, but we prefer him from Borsola. Our discussions will conclude if we can negotiate three seats,” Gogoi stated.

He further mentioned that Dhing was initially promised to Raijor Dal, but the Congress is now hesitant to concede it.

As the contours of seat-sharing take shape, the unity of the Opposition coalition will likely be tested as the electoral battle heats up.