Prafulla Mahanta’s Birthday Message: A Warning for the Alliance?

Former Assam Chief Minister and senior Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) leader Prafulla Kumar Mahanta’s birthday was observed on Tuesday with a formal programme at Rajdhani Regency hotel in Guwahati. 

The event was attended by senior AGP leaders, party workers and several eminent personalities. On the occasion, a book authored by Mahanta’s wife, Jayshree Goswami Mahanta, was formally released.

The programme assumed political significance as AGP leaders used the platform to reflect on the party’s past, present and future course ahead of the 2026 Assam Assembly elections.

Speaking at the event, AGP leader Jainath Sarma said the party should have emerged as a dominant force in Assam politics but was weakened due to its prolonged absence from power over the past 15 years, which, he said, made it difficult to retain grassroots workers.

“Many BJP workers today come from families that were originally associated with AGP,” Sarma said, highlighting the regional party’s historical influence in the state.

Sarma recalled that AGP faced a difficult phase during the Congress-led governments between 2001 and 2016, alleging sustained political pressure and administrative hurdles during that period. He said the party survived despite financial and political constraints and later regained organisational strength after entering into an alliance with the BJP.

He further alleged that several development proposals sent by AGP to the Centre were opposed by Congress leaders from Assam. Referring to internal party matters, Sarma said he was earlier unhappy over denial of tickets but added that his grievances have since been addressed following assurances from the party leadership.

On alliance dynamics, Sarma asserted that the BJP should concede at least one Assembly seat to AGP in districts where the regional party currently has no sitting MLAs, stressing the need for a more balanced seat-sharing arrangement.

Former chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, in his remarks, said AGP must assert its independent ideological and organisational strength. He maintained that the party should be capable of contesting a substantial number of Assembly seats on its own, without excessive dependence on alliances.

“Despite sustained political pressure during the Congress rule between 2001 and 2016, AGP managed to survive. After aligning with the BJP, our organisational base has strengthened,” Mahanta said.

He suggested that in constituencies where AGP has a strong organisational presence, the party should not hesitate to seek seats even if they are currently held by BJP legislators. Mahanta also expressed confidence in the present AGP leadership, stating that the party has capable leaders who can steer it forward if given adequate political space.

Senior AGP leader Ramendra Narayan Kalita supported Mahanta’s views, stating that the party would seek a higher number of seats from its ally BJP in the upcoming Assembly elections. He said AGP has already begun constituency-wise surveys to identify seats where the party has traditional roots and electoral potential.

“To defeat the Congress, BJP and AGP will have to contest seats strategically based on organisational strength and ground realities,” Kalita said.

Political observers view the statements as a clear signal of AGP’s intent to reassert its regional identity and negotiate a stronger role within the BJP-led alliance ahead of the 2026 Assam Assembly elections.

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