Mahanta plans gift for wife: BJP ticket

Former Assam chief minister and Asom Gana Parishad leader Prafulla Kumar Mahanta is reportedly seeking a BJP ticket for his wife, Jayashree,...

Former Assam chief minister and Asom Gana Parishad leader Prafulla Kumar Mahanta is reportedly seeking a BJP ticket for his wife, Jayashree, from the Dhubri seat in Assam.

Mahanta, accompanied by his wife, met BJP president M. Venkaiah Naidu here on March 4 to make the request. State BJP chief and Rajya Sabha member Indramani Bora, however, got wind of Mahanta’s lobbying and has written to Naidu, opposing any such move.

The state BJP unit is opposed to any tie-up with either the AGP or the Mahantas. State leaders believe the AGP has lost considerable ground and Mahanta’s own stock is very low among people. Therefore, it is time for the BJP to close in and occupy the entire non-Congress space in Assam.

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The results of a tie-up with the AGP were disastrous for the BJP during the last Assembly polls. Therefore, Bora’s contention is that all overtures by AGP leaders, individually or collectively, be rejected. He is also of the view that triangular contests would help the BJP win more seats. Naidu, sources said, is inclined to go along with the state BJP’s view.

A section of BJP at the Centre, however, feels that even though the party is very strong in nine of 14 seats in Assam, a tie-up between the BJP and AGP may undermine Congress prospects in the remaining five.