35 yrs after leading Assam Agitation, AASU jumps into political arena again

Sep 17, 2020

Guwahati: Asom Jana Parishad (AJP) the regional political party announced by the influential All Assam Students Union (AASU) is a new chapter in Assam politics. AJP plans to contest in the upcoming Assam Assembly elections in 2021.

It’s the second time the student body has jumped into the political arena of the north-eastern state. After leading a most successful anti-foreigners student movement which culminated in the signing of the Assam Accord in 1985 with the Rajiv Gandhi-led Congress government at the Centre in 1985.

Leaders of the movement formed Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), and Prafulla Mahata, the president of AASU, one of the signatories of Assam Accord, became the youngest chief minister riding on the huge wave of popularity .

However, AGP which ruled Assam for two terms from 1985-1990 and 1996-2001 couldn’t come to terms with the pulse of the people in governance. The two terms of AGP were marred by allegation of corruption and secret killings of surrendered United Liberation Front of Asom members which waged a secessionists battle against Indian government.

One time hero of fighting for preserving the Assamese identity fell in the eyes of common Assamese people and his popularity ratings dipped fast as it rose during the Assam movement agitation.

More or less in the same settings in Assam as the protest movement led by AASU against Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) continues in the state, 35 years later another new party has been formed by the student body.

The student body has said it will keep its apolitical nature intact keeping safe distance from AJP. However, questions arise whether it will be practically possible?

AASU in its initial days had considerable clout over the psyche of Assamese people which espoused the cause of preserving the local identity of the indigenous population. But time has changed during the CAA protest. The student organizations could mobilize support but it was nothing compared to the Assam agitation days.

In such times, how much of the sentiment of the CAA movement will fructify into political score in the electoral battle is a matter of great debate.

The AJP plans to contest 80 seats in the Assembly elections. In doing so it will need full might of its student body.

Keeping political and student entities apart would be difficult, and in such a scenario how people will react to the new political outfit remains to be seen.

The past story of the student body jumping into politics is not rosy. And the past mistakes in governance are still fresh in the minds of the Assamese voters of the state. In every parameter state fell fallen to its lowest during the AGP rule.

If AJP needs to rewrite history in Assam politics it has to first convince the people of Assam that the party will walk the talk and won’t falter in its transition from student body to political party.

–INDIA NEWS STREAM