Opposition parties in Assam decide to form anti-BJP front for 2026 Assembly polls
Guwahati: Seven Opposition parties including Congress in Assam on Wednesday decided to form an anti-BJP front for the Assembly elections expected to take place next year.
The parties in the proposed Opposition bloc are the Congress, the Raijor Dal, the Assam Jatiya Parishad, the Anchalik Gana Morcha, the Communist Party of India, the Communist Party of India (Marxist), the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) and the All-Party Hill Leaders’ Conference.
The All India United Democratic Front, which had contested the 2021 polls in seat-sharing arrangements with the Congress, is not part of the bloc, as reported by Deccan Herald. However, sources quoted by the newspaper did not rule out the possibility of a post-poll alliance with Badruddin Ajmal-led AIUDF.
After a two-hour meeting of the eight-party alliance on Wednesday, Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) President Gaurav Gogoi stated that the coalition had been formed to liberate the people of the state from the "corruption and oppression" of the current government.
"We all had an eagerness to contest the next Assembly elections together in order to free the people of Assam from the harassment, corruption and divisive politics of BJP and Himanta Biswa Sarma government. Today, we have taken that decision to unseat BJP,” DH quoted him as saying.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, however, downplayed the formation of the new bloc. “Such meetings of Opposition parties and subsequent quarrels among themselves are common. Now that elections are around the corner, we will see more such meetings,” The Hindu quoted the BJP leader as saying.
Meanwhile, reports suggest that BJP is likely to contest the polls in alliance with Asom Gana Parishad and Bodoland People's Front (BPF).
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Minor girl kidnapped and raped; main accused and two cafe owners held
Latur (PTI): A minor girl was allegedly kidnapped and raped by an 18-year-old man in Latur, leading to the arrest of the main accused and owners of two cafes where the crime occurred on December 4, police said on Saturday.
Police traced the girl within hours of registering the complaint. The accused, identified as Rihan Gulab Shaikh, was arrested based on the girl's complaint. Two others are owners of two cafes where the crime occurred, police said.
Police registered a case under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), POCSO Act, and the Prevention of Atrocities Act, an official said.
