The AGP and the BJP are going all out to outgun each other during the panchayat poll campaign.

The coalition partners are contesting the rural polls, scheduled to be held on December 5 and 9, on their own.

Addressing a news conference at the district BJP party office here on Monday, state BJP spokesperson Subash Dutta came down heavily on the AGP leaders for criticising chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal and other ministers during the panchayat poll rallies.

“We will no longer tolerate it if the AGP leaders continue to criticise the chief minister and other ministers of the BJP-led Assam government with their political motive,” Dutta said. He alleged an understanding between the AGP and the Congress in the panchayat elections.

“In some gaon panchayat seats, the Congress has not fielded its candidates because they have let the AGP candidates contest after an understanding. The parties have an unholy alliance between them to contest against the BJP. The BJP is going to win in maximum panchayats in the district in this election. The AGP is nowhere in the race. However, the Congress may get a few seats,” he said.

Taking a dig at former chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, Dutta said Mahanta has been busy criticising BJP leader Chandra Mohan Patowary these days.

“But in his 10 years’ rule in Assam, what has he done for the people? Nothing. The BJP believed in the democratic fabric of the Constitution. Hence, a joint parliamentary committee was formed to take consensus from various parties, organisation and individuals,” Dutta said.

In a recent election rally, chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal castigated the regional party. A war of words has been going on between the two parties over the panchayat poll.

AGP spokeperson Manoj Saikia termed Sonowal’s statement as “unfortunate and misleading”. He alleged that the BJP was now functioning like the Congress.

In a recent election rally at the Rajabari playground at Teok, Assam finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma lambasted the AGP, Congress and as well as the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind president Arshad Madani.

He said the AGP was seen to be backed by the na Axomiya, literally new Assamese people, or migrants, whereas the BJP was backed by the indigenous Assamese people.

Altogether 3,214 candidates are in the fray for the panchayat elections in Dibrugarh district to be held on December 5 for the 23 members for the zila parishad.

There are 65 candidates in the fray — BJP 23, Congress 23 and AGP 19.

There will be 93 members elected for the gaon panchayat members for which 288 candidates have filed their nomination. The BJP has fielded 93 members, Congress 93, AGP 79, CPM 6, CPI (M-L) 5 and Independent 12.

Altogether 93 members are contesting for the anchalik panchayat of which 268 candidates have filed nomination — BJP 92,Congress 92, AGP 74, CPM 5, CPI (M-L) 4 and Independent 1.

State election commissioner H.N. Bora said this time, fewer number of candidates are contesting the polls.

He said this time the average number of contesting candidates per seat is three compared to five in the last few elections.