Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) has found itself in a tight spot again as its ally BJP is likely to push the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in the Parliament session starting Monday.

The AGP, which had walked out of the coalition before the Lok Sabha polls opposing the bill, later resumed ties after a seat-sharing arrangement and an assurance from the BJP that the legislation would be brought only after a consensus.

Though senior AGP leaders have been opposing the bill, the party was yet to take a call if the Centre passes it. The AGP had earlier rejected the bill as violation of the Assam Accord and anti-indigenous.

AGP general secretary and former minister Nurul Hussain said on Sunday, “The party had decided to oppose the bill in an executive body meeting earlier. The decision has not changed. We oppose the bill vehemently.”

Three AGP legislators — Atul Bora, Keshab Mahanta, and Phani Bhusan Choudhury — are ministers in the BJP-led state government.

Former chief minister Prafulla Mahanta said the party should reject the bill at any cost. “The bill will simply nullify the Assam Accord and the sacrifice of 855 martyrs. The Accord has already set the cut-off date of March 24, 1971, to identify illegal migrants and there should not be any deviation,” he said. Mahanta had abstained from voting during the Lok Sabha election in protest against the bill.

Party insiders, however, said though the AGP has been opposing the bill, it would not make much difference in Parliament. “The BJP has the numbers. Earlier, Opposition MPs supported our cause and forced the BJP to drop its plan of introducing the bill in Rajya Sabha. But the situation is different now. We hope the new bill will consider the concerns of the state,” a senior party leader said.

The All Assam Students’ Union, which led the Assam Agitation, condemned the AGP. AASU president Dipanka Kumar Nath said, “People have lost hope in the AGP. The party, which was formed to safeguard the Assamese people, has shamelessly surrendered itself.”

The Opposition Congress also criticised the AGP. PCC president and Rajya Sabha MP Ripun Bora said, “AGP has failed the people. It is now in a dilemma. It wants to be in power and also wants public support, which is impossible owing to its unclear stand on the bill. We had gathered support from other parties to oppose the bill in Rajya Sabha the last time. We are going to oppose it again.”