The Asom Gana Parishad leadership has sacrificed ideology for power and will lose credibility among its core supporters while collaborating with the BJP-led government.

The party's ability or disability to address these challenges will likely influence its long-term political future and resonance with the public.

The victory –

The Assam Movement was a significant uprising led by organizations like the All Assam Students Union (AASU) and All Assam Gana Sangram Parishad (AAGSP). The movement aimed to pressure the Government of India to detect, disenfranchise, and deport illegal immigrants from Assam.

Lasting for six years, the movement involved a sustained civil disobedience campaign leading to political turmoil and widespread ethnic violence. Ultimately, in 1985, the movement concluded with the signing of the Assam Accord, which addressed some of the key demands put forth by the protesters regarding the detection and deportation of illegal immigrants.

The letdown –  with powers comes great responsibility

The birth of the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) heralded a new era in Assam's political landscape, emerging as a symbol of the aspirations and hopes of its people. Established in the aftermath of the historic Assam Accord of 1985, the AGP swiftly rose to prominence as a formidable force dedicated to representing the interests of the Assamese populace.

By 2001, the party had already been in power for two terms, and that year's Assam assembly election marked significant shifts. The AGP and BJP allied, causing the AGP to lose previous partners like CPI, CPM, and UPP. Confusion arose over the alliance, with AGP risking its support among non-Hindu minorities. Congress capitalized on this, forming alliances with smaller ethnic-based parties. The left parties lost their grip in Assam, and Congress emerged victorious due to public discontent with AGP's previous governance marred by corruption and violence.

Conclusion

The BJP's Hindutva agenda, cloaked within its developmental narrative, has disillusioned the public, particularly regarding controversial agendas like the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). While the party cannot be absolved of responsibility, as the promotion of Hindutva has been central to its platform, and CAA remains a potent force or value when it comes to our relationship with Pakistan. However, this appeal wanes significantly when it comes to the eastern border areas.

The political hold of the Asom Gana Parishad in Assam is diminishing fast. The party's inability to effectively address the immigration issue and its failure to hold accountable those involved in the clandestine killings during the Assam Agitation have already left a lasting negative impression among the populace. The AGP's silence on critical issues such as the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) further exacerbates its predicament. This silence is perceived by many as a betrayal of the party's principles and a disregard for the sentiments of the people it claims to represent.

In essence, the combination of past failures, the encroachment of rival political forces, and the perceived abandonment of core values by the AGP paint a bleak picture of its prospects. Its decline seems inevitable, with the silence over the CAA serving as the final nail in the coffin.

As the party is unable to uphold the intra-party democracy, at most certainly in the 2024 election, the ideology with which the party came into being will be completely lost and will certainly become a subsidiary of BJP as a regional namesake.

As Assam stands at the crossroads of progress and transformation, the AGP sadly will not play any role in shaping its destiny.