ELECTIONS '98
COMMENTARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
YEH HAI INDIA!
ARCHIVES

Seven-member PDF withdraws support to Mahanta, no danger to ministry

The Progressive Democratic Front has withdrawn its support to the Asom Gana Parishad-led coalition government in Assam.

The PDF has seven members in a House of 126, and supported the government from the outside.

The decision to withdraw support was taken at the two-day convention of the party held at Balipara in Sonitpur district.

Newly elected PDF resident Garla Batha Basumatary alleged that the AGP-led four-party alliance government had failed to honour the commitments made to the PDF in lieu of its support. The government had failed to solve the problems of the state, particularly those related to the Bodos, he said.

The convention also decided to launch a movement from May 2 to press for a separate Bodo state. The party would also campaign for an end to the fratricidal violence among the Bodos.

AGP spokesman and Civil Supplies Minister Digen Chandra Bora, however, ruled out any threat to the government following the withdrawal of support by the PDF.

Terming the PDF decision as ''unfortunate,'' Bora said the government had already taken measures to solve the Bodo problem in the state.

UNI

Tell us what you think of this report