The Asom Gana Parishad’s (AGP) decision to join hands with the BJP again has not been welcomed by many, especially by some of the long-time members of the party.

This, however, has resulted as gain for the National People’s Party (NPP), which recently launched the party’s unit in Assam.

On Thursday, former AGP minister Bhaben Baruah and one of its former executive members, among others, joined the party led by its president and Meghalaya chief minister Conrad K. Sangma.

“Now, we have reached a situation where people don’t have an option to choose a regional party. When people across the Northeast stood united and opposed the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019, the AGP was with them. Thus, the party had won the trust of people. But by joining hands with the BJP again, the AGP leadership has committed a blunder,” Baruah, a former state health minister, said after formally joining the NPP.

Baruah said he was happy to join the party which believes in “regionalism and also in the voice of the region”.

Assamese actor Brojen Bora, who has an association with the BJP, said the current environment is a threat to the indigenous population of the Northeast.

“It’s time we stood united and did something for a better future of Assam’s indigenous people,” the actor said.

Sashanka Neog, another former AGP leader, who was once a member of the central executive, has also joined the NPP.

The NPP’s Assam unit was formally inaugurated early this month by Conrad.

The NPP’s Assam convener Dilip Borah, another former AGP, said he has been overwhelmed by the response of the people towards the NPP.

“People from across the state have been calling us constantly and expressing their will to join the party. In the next few days, you will see more people joining us. This has happened because of the party’s motto, One Voice, One NE. I welcome you all wholeheartedly to our party,” Borah said.

The NPP and Conrad had gained support from all the sections of the region when he led from the front to oppose the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019.

Starting from the students’ body, the North East Students Organization (Neso), all regional political parties had hailed the efforts of Conrad and his leadership.

The NPP has its presence in Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, besides its home, Meghalaya.

Borah, during a news conference last week here, said they are aiming at least 10 of 24 seats in the region.