Assam polls: Tussle between regional, national parties to 'safeguard' Assamese identity

GUWAHATI: (Mar 22) As Assam prepares to elect a new government, regionalism remains a core issue for the state, which has been grappling with concerns over safeguarding its "identity" from the threat of "outsiders", mainly illegal migrants, for decades.

The relevance of regional political parties has come under question over the years with all major such outfits, including the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), aligning with national parties.

"Hijacking" of the primary issue of "Asomiya Jatiyotabad" (Assamese nationalism) by the national parties, coupled with the more expansive resources at their disposal, have made the regional parties to take sides with them for electoral survival, political analysts maintained.