AGP veterans push for poll tickets as seat sharing with BJP nears finish line

Guwahati: Veteran leaders of Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) are pressing to contest the 2026 Assam assembly election, a stance that could corner the party leadership and even trigger defections to the opposition as the AGP-BJP seat-sharing deal nears finalisation.

On Saturday, supporters of West Guwahati MLA and AGP general secretary Ramendra Narayan Kalita demonstrated at the AGP headquarters, insisting that during seat-sharing talks with BJP, the saffron party should leave at least one of Guwahati’s four seats, Guwahati Central, for its regional ally.




In the Palasbari constituency, close to Guwahati, AGP veteran and another general secretary Kamala Kanta Kalita held a rally on Thursday. A consultation meeting with party workers is scheduled for Sunday, during which he is expected to weigh his political options.

Both Ramendra and Kamala fear they could be pushed aside as the AGP-BJP seat-sharing arrangement is expected to be finalised soon. Ramendra has been associated with AGP since its formation in 1985 and was a former minister in the AGP govt led by Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, like Kamala.

“The energy of the young generation should get importance in ticket distribution, but if the experience of the elderly is ignored, it does not help the party to flourish. We were associated with the Assam agitation and subsequent signing of the Assam Accord, following which AGP was formed. The party should consider the cases of some leaders like me, for whom this is the last election,” Ramendra told TOI on Saturday.

His supporters argue that Guwahati Central is the most suitable alternative for ticket allocation because a substantial part of the former West Guwahati constituency now falls within it. They point out that eight municipal wards from the erstwhile West Guwahati were merged into the newly created Guwahati Central constituency.

A similar uncertainty surrounds former minister Kamala after delimitation dissolved the Chhaygaon constituency, from where he is a former MLA. He looked towards Palasbari, where a sizeable portion of Chhaygaon was included, as his next electoral base.

Once considered among the prominent AGP leaders closest to Mahanta, Kamala earlier could count on an assured ticket, but shifting political realities and BJP’s firm position on Palasbari complicated matters. “Tomorrow, I will sit with our party workers for their opinion. My people decide my future course of action,” Kamala said.

AGP leader Phani Bhusan Choudhury told the media that constituencies and tickets are still undecided. “Discussion with BJP on seat sharing is not yet complete,” he said.

In the 126-member Assam assembly, the BJP holds 64 seats and AGP has 9. Choudhury expressed confidence that AGP’s tally would reach double digits in the next election.Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Women's day wishes, messages and quotes !