‘Regional parties’ support imperative’

Guwahati: Two-time former Assam CM and AGP president Prafulla Kumar Mahanta on Monday asserted that regional parties’ support was imperative for any national party to form government at the Centre.
The importance of regional parties will be further highlighted in next year’s general elections, he said, urging the people to vote for regional parties.
Interacting with media persons here, Mahanta said ‘National parties cannot form government at the Centre without the support of regional parties. Regional parties cannot be ignored in the power equations.’
He urged the people to vote for candidates from regional parties and send them to the Lok Sabha.
‘I request the people to vote for regional parties. National party leaders will not espouse the cause of a region or state as much as a leader from a regional party will,’ he said, citing the objection raised by the lone AGP member in Rajya Sabha when the government introduced the land swap deal bill in the Upper House earlier this month.
‘National parties have many things on their agenda. But regional parties are concerned specifically with a state or region and champion its causes,’ Mahanta added.
He said the convergence of regional parties of North East into a common platform, North East Regional Political Front, is a positive indication in strengthening regionalism in NE.
Mahanta reiterated the Asom Gana Parishad’s (AGP) commitment towards serving the people of Assam. (UNI)