AGP’s Open Revolt Against BJP in Bihpuria Ahead of 2026 Assam Polls

The Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) unit in Bihpuria has launched a full-blown rebellion against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), its ally in the ruling coalition, ahead of the 2026 Assam Assembly elections. Alleging repeated betrayal and humiliation, AGP leaders have announced that they will field an independent candidate if the party is denied the Bihpuria seat once again under the seat-sharing arrangement.

In a high-voltage workers’ meeting held on Sunday, attended by over 3,000 party workers and office-bearers from 21 regional committees, the Bihpuria AGP unanimously resolved to nominate Prof. Makhan Tamuli, a retired academic from Madhavdev University and current president of the constituency unit, as their independent candidate for the 2026 elections.

The resolution comes as a sharp warning to both the BJP and AGP central leadership. The local unit has threatened to take out a procession to the AGP’s central office in Ambari, Guwahati after July 15, where they plan to submit a memorandum of demands. If their grievances are ignored, they will stage a sit-in protest in front of the party headquarters. As a final step, all 21 regional AGP committees under the Bihpuria unit have threatened to resign en masse and contest the elections independently.

“We’ve had enough. For the last ten years, the BJP has sidelined us and treated AGP like an afterthought. They have shown no regard for coalition values or the role of regional allies,” said Biren Saikia, senior AGP leader, during the convention. He added, “If our concerns continue to be ignored, we will resign, march to Ambari in protest, and contest the elections independently. We are prepared for a direct fight.”

AGP workers in Bihpuria alleged that despite being part of the ruling alliance, they have faced consistent neglect and humiliation under the BJP-led government. The local leadership claimed that the AGP has been denied its rightful claim to the Bihpuria seat in two consecutive elections and warned that a third denial would be unacceptable.

The AGP also accused the BJP of orchestrating a deliberate plan to weaken regional parties in Assam.

“BJP wants to erase AGP from the map by denying us winnable constituencies like Bihpuria. They are not interested in alliance politics — only domination,” another local leader said.

The move by Bihpuria AGP follows similar discontent brewing within the party’s ranks in Majuli and Nalbari, but this is the first instance where a unit has openly announced an independent candidate and a timeline for direct action.

Prof. Makhan Tamuli, the proposed candidate, is a respected academic and a well-known face in the Bihpuria region. His candidature is seen as a strategic attempt to consolidate local support under a credible figure with strong grassroots connections.

The Bihpuria unit’s decision has now put the AGP central leadership in a tight spot. While party high command has not officially responded, pressure is mounting to review the alliance dynamics with the BJP and assert AGP’s political relevance ahead of the 2026 polls.

For the AGP, once a dominant regional force in Assam, this rebellion highlights a deepening internal crisis and growing dissatisfaction over its junior status within the BJP-led alliance. Local leaders believe that continuing under such conditions will lead to the party’s eventual extinction from the state’s political landscape.

“This is not just about one seat. It’s about dignity, autonomy, and survival. If AGP leadership doesn’t act now, it will be too late,” said a senior party worker at the convention.

With less than a year to go for elections, the Bihpuria declaration could set off a chain reaction across other constituencies where AGP cadres feel ignored. If not addressed promptly, the fallout could significantly impact the ruling coalition’s electoral strategy in Upper Assam and beyond.

Also Read: Breaking: AGP Snaps Ties With BJP in Majuli, Will Go Solo in 2026