Guwahati, Assam: Citizenship Bill issue was kept aside by both political parties in the state, BJP and AGP, on Tuesday, in light of upcoming Lok Sabha polls in April-May.
Two months after quarreling with the ruling BJP in Assam over the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, a regional party in the state, the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), has returned to the alliance ahead of the general elections.
The decision was taken late night as the two parties decided to form an alliance after a long meeting between senior BJP leader Ram Madhav and the chief of the regional party.
“After discussion, BJP and AGP have decided to work together in the coming parliament election in Assam to defeat Congress,” Mr Madhav told reporters after the meeting. “It was a hectic day of parlays yesterday in the North East,” he wrote.
On January 7, the AGP withdrew its support from the BJP government in the state in protest against the centre’s decision to go ahead with the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, which seeks to grant nationality to non-Muslims from Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Pakistan after six years of residence in India.
Major highlight of the development was that the BJP had stated that if it returns to power, it will bring the bill again in parliament.
Polling for the general election will be held in three phases in Assam, on April 11, 18 and 23.
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