GUWAHATI: The Asom Gana Parishad formally split on Wednesday with the founder-president and former Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta floating a new regional outfit. The resolution to form the Asom Gana Parishad (Progressive) was adopted at a two-day political convention, which began here. The party would have the original flag of the AGP when its was launched on August 14, 1985 at Golaghat. The flag was modified in 1996 after the merger of the Natun Asom Gana Parishad with the AGP.

This is the third time the AGP has split. The first time it occurred in 1991 when Mr. Mahanta's arch-rival, Assam Home Minister Bhrigu Kumar Phukan, and the present AGP chief, Brindaban Goswami, raised a banner of revolt and formed the Natun Asom Gana Parishad. It suffered the second split when Public Works Department Minister in the Mahanta Cabinet Atual Bora formed the Trinamool Gana Parishad.

Committee formed

At Wednesday's convention, a 61-member ad hoc central executive committee, headed by Mr. Mahanta, and an advisory council were formed. "We will now move the Election Commission for allotment of the elephant symbol to our party as we are the real heir," said Hemanta Kalita, general secretary and spokesman of the new party.

A resolution moved by Kartik Hazarika, a chief convener, expressed the resolve to form a "parallel and real AGP." Claiming that the delegates were the real heirs to the regional party, it announced the expulsion of the present AGP leadership, led by Mr. Brindaban Goswami, from the party.

The resolution said the AGP leadership had deviated from the party's objectives and was indulging in "politics of expulsion," which weakened regionalism.

Mr. Mahanta said the leadership was indiscriminately expelling leaders. The convention was being held to strengthen and revitalise regionalism in Assam.

Parallel meeting

Mr. Mahanta was expelled from the AGP on July 3 on charges of anti-party activities. Two other MLAs, Sahidul Alam Choudhury and Utpal Dutta, were also expelled. The expelled MLAs as well as other two sitting legislators, Gunin Hazarika and Bubul Das, attended the convention. At present, Mr. Goswami enjoys the support of 13 AGP MLAs.

The AGP central executive committee met at the party headquarters at Amabri here to decide its strategy in the wake of the split. The AGP would hold a meeting of district presidents on Thursday.

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