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Assam : Coup threat to Gogoi Ministry ?

	December 18, 2006

Reports from Guwahati indicate that the Congress-led coalition government in Assam is facing political instability following manoeuvres by opposition parties to topple the Tarun Gogoi Government.



According to the leader of the Assam United Democratic Front (AUDF), Badruddin Ajmal, the Congress could get a stab in the back from its own coalition partner, the Bodo People’s Progressive Front (BPPF).



Ajmal who is considered a kingmaker in the opposition moves, hinted that BPPF leader Hagrama Mohilary would become Chief Minister in the new set up, while Brindaban Goswami of AGP would be his deputy and former state Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta will be the chairman of the proposed new alliance.



Although Ajmal did not reveal his plans, he did admit to making moves to cobble together a coalition to topple the Congress government. The surprise weapon will be Mohilary’s BPPF, the very party that helped Tarun Gogoi retain power.



“Yes, there is such a possibility. If there can be a UPA and an NDA, why not an APA (Assam Progressive Alliance) ?” Ajmal asked.



However, he refused to confirm if his party, the AUDF, was leading the campaign.



Health and Family Welfare Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has, however, dismissed talk of a coup as “daydreaming”. Reacting to the reports, Agriculture Minister Pramila Rani Brahma, who is from the BPPF, said her party was “quite comfortable” being a partner with the Congress and that there was no need to think of any alternative.



Sources said the proposed alliance would have 73 legislators - 24 from the Asom Gana Parishad, 12 from the BPPF, the AUDF’s 10, the BJP’s 10, CPI/CPM’s three and a motley group of 14 comprising Independents, the AGP (Pragatisheel), Autonomous State Demand Committee and Nationalist Congress Party. The Congress has 53 legislators in a House of 126.



For the BPPF, the carrot at the end of the stick is ostensibly the opportunity to lead a ruling alliance instead of being just a partner.







Ajmal said the alliance would be based on a “sacrifice formula”.



“Bigger parties will make sacrifices to form this alliance in the greater interest of the state,” he added.



Independent MLA Pranab Kalita has been given the responsibility of uniting all other Independents.



On being asked whether the AGP was serious about such an alliance, Goswami only smiled. Prodded for a comment, he said: “You will know if something comes up.”



BJP legislator Mission Ranjan Das said his party would positively consider any such proposal after discussing it with the high command. He claimed no such proposal has come to the BJP as yet.



If the proposal materialises and clicks, the AGP could get plum portfolios like home, education, health and power for “sacrificing” the Chief Ministership, sources said. The BJP and the AUDF will have three ministers each.





House appeals to ULFA to save Games



The Assam Assembly has appealed to the banned ULFA to “review” its call for a boycott of the 33rd National Games. The ruling coalition and the Opposition were unanimous in their view of the Games as not only a “prestige issue” but also an opportunity to improve sports infrastructure in the state. Cutting across party lines, the legislators beseeched ULFA not to take any decision that would dent the pride of the people of Assam.



Assam will be hosting the event, slated for February 9 to 18, for the first time. The Games have already been postponed twice.



ULFA chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa said Assam should not host any event “imposed” by Delhi. However, a few days later, ULFA modified its stand and promised not to disrupt the event if it was rechristened “Assam Sports Festival”.



But ULFA’s stand has already had an impact, with the Indian Olympic Association’s meeting on December 20 being shifted from Guwahati to the Olympic Bhawan in New Delhi. Sources in the Assam Olympic Association said several national sports federations had asked their representatives in Assam to check out the arrangements for the security of sportspersons who will compete in the Games.





Police gun for ULFA hitman



Meanwhile, Police have identified and launched a manhunt for the ULFA leader behind the revenge attacks on security forces since the November 3 encounter in which a top militant was killed.



A senior officer said on Dec. 10 that Madhurjya Gohain, a member of ULFA’s dreaded 28 Battalion, masterminded the blast in which four police personnel and a civilian driver died. The incident occurred at Suraj Nagar near Tengakhat in Dibrugarh district.



“Gohain is an expert in handling explosives,” the officer said.



All police stations in Upper Assam, especially Dibrugarh and Tinsukia, have been placed on “maximum alert”.



The police officer said Gohain and his team may have planted remote-controlled improvised explosive devices at several places in anticipation of security forces passing by. Gohain is believed to be operating from along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border. He flees to Myanmar when an operation is launched.