AGP and the 1985 Election : A Turning Point in Assam's Political History

The emergence of AGP dramatically altered the political landscape of Assam. The era of single-party dominance by the Congress was replaced by a multi-party system. This shift also marked a significant change in the state's electoral trends. In the 1985 Assembly election, the Congress party, which had hoped to reclaim power by aligning itself with Assamese aspirations, faced a substantial setback. The Politics of Assam is under the dominance of the Congress party till 1980s. The voters of the state had given the party majority support since 1952. The party was able to show its dominance compared to other political parties. But in 1985 with the emergence of regional political party Asom Ganna Parisad (AGP), the political scenery has changed in the state. It has created a challenge to the Congress hegemony. The AGP not only creates a strong support base in the state but also create a greater consensus amid the Assamese people regarding the issue of immigration. However, the party cannot hold the people base, inability to resolve the immigration issue. This paper draws a comprehensive outline of the AGP as a regional force in Assam in the late 1980s. The present study also made an attempt to analyse and highlight the rise and decline of AGP in the state politics of Assam and the current trend of its political base. This paper aims to explore the evolution of AGP as a regional political force in Assam during the late 1980s. It examines both the factors behind its dramatic rise.