The Hindu : National : Goswami re-elected AGP president

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Saturday, Sep 01, 2007
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Goswami re-elected AGP president

Sushanta Talukdar

Guwahati: Opposition Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) president Brindaban Goswami was re-elected for another term to head the regional party in Assam on Friday.

Mr. Goswami’s re-election was possible only after his loyalists worked out a last-minute compromise formula to accommodate senior party leader Phani Bhusan Choudhury as working president and Mr. Goswami agreeing to quit the post of Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly.

It was decided that party chief whip Chandra Mohan Patowary would replace Mr. Goswami as the Leader of the Opposition.

The two-day conclave, at the Pragjyoti ITA centre, was on Thursday marred by ugly scenes of vandalism by AGP workers, who were sharply divided into two camps—one favouring re-election of Mr. Goswami and another backing Mr. Chouhdury and seeking a change in leadership.

The agenda of the election of a new committee of office-bearers was inconclusive as both Mr. Goswami and Mr. Choudhury did not reach an understanding on election of the new leadership.

The conclave venue was shifted to the AGP headquarters at Ambari, where only delegates wearing badges and media persons were allowed.

Although all arrangements for election of a new president from the two aspirants — Mr. Goswami and Mr. Choudhury — through secret ballots were made, the two leaders sought time to sit together to reach a consensus and avoid an election.

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