AGP shuts out Mahanta

The strained ties between Asom Gana Parishad chief Brindaban Goswami and former Assam CM Prafulla Kumar Mahanta became more obvious today with the party not sending an invitation to Mahanta for its 18th foundation day celebrations. ‘‘It is indeed sad that the present AGP leadership failed to extend an invitation to the founder president of the party,’’ Mahanta, who attended a smaller function organised in the party’s central office here, said in a statement.

The regional party’s central function on the other hand was held at Dhemaji in Upper Assam, with president Goswami presiding. A party functionary, however, claimed that no individual invitation letter was issued to any member and Mahanta was free to attend the Dhemaji function.