Fault Lines Within

Most troubled were the former Natun Asom Gana Parishad (NAGP) leaders who expressed their discontent over being marginalised in the party—obviously protesting against the exclusion of erstwhile home minister Bhrigu Phukan and speaker Pulakesh Baruah in the new ministry. Mahanta, however, was his cool and calm self and refused to fall for the bait. Says an observer: "He is more mature than before, leading a combined opposition to victory for the first time, but the law and order situation is worrying him." 

The AGP started off briskly, sending off a memorandum to Governor Loknath Mishra with a demand to withdraw the army and stop its Operation Rhino, a major campaign plank. Its position on the proposed 'self-determination' for Assam, said its critics, differed very little from the stand taken by the banned ULFA.

At the weekend, the internal feud within the AGP surfaced with 800 supporters of former assembly speaker Pulakesh Baruah, who has joined the AGP, angrily protesting his non-inclusion in the council of ministers. Baruah had defeated the acting chief minister Bhumidhar Barman at Barkhetri, giving him, in the eyes of his supporters who came in eight buses, sufficient reason for a berth. The demonstrators first went to the AGP's Amoari office looking for Mahanta, then to the state secretariat. They barged into the state guest house where he was holding his first press conference, in the process shooing off security guards and damaging two gates. An angry Mahanta received their memorandum without conceding anything. "In Assam no fewer than 14 ministers were defeated. If we were to accommodate all the victors in the ministry, how would we function?" asked an AGP spokesman. On his part, Baruah said the demonstration had been organised without his knowledge. Even his former NAGP colleague, Bhrigu Phukan, was embarrassed. "The party must be disciplined. I do not support such tactics, but Baruah has denied involvement," he said.

Barring Phukan, who seems to be effectively sidelined for his alleged links with the Congress, no other NAGP leader has a size-able following. While Hitesh Deka and Badan Baruah did not get tickets, the former NAGP men who won the elections were Phukan, Pulakesh Baruah, Brindaban Gos-wami and Ramen Kalita, who is a minister.

Phukan has adopted a wait-and-watch policy, giving his detractors little chance of attacking him. "Please remember the NAGP does not exist, it is dead. Now there is only one party, the AGP. I do not feel slighted at not being made a minister. It is the prerogative of the chief to make his team," he told Outlook.

The opposition Congress, too, has opted for the waiting game. Says state General Secretary Akhan Bora: "We are concerned about the collapse of the administration. We will discuss our strategy with our president Tarun Gogoi. But before we talk to him, we cannot say anything. But we are definitely worried about the situation."

 In view of the deteriorating law and order situation, Mahanta himself seems to be backpedalling on his earlier stand that the army must leave the state. "All this is a legacy of Saikia's rule," he told newsmen, "but once ethnic violence erupts, it becomes difficult for the authorities to understand who is attacking when and why." He also indicated, not very convincingly, that he would try to operate through the state police only, amidst reports that paramilitary troops were on the way to tackle the crisis in the riot-hit districts.

The state's precarious financial position, its flood problems and the law and order situation seems to have limited the AGP-led government's anti-New Delhi stance. This is not to suggest that the party is abandoning its plan to vote against the BJP on May 31. "Our relations with the Government at the Centre can be cordial even if we differ politically," Mahanta told newsmen, putting all speculation to rest.