Assam finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday dubbed the idea of a possible political alternative, backed by the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU), artists’ community and civil society groups of the state, to oust the ruling BJP-led government and the Opposition Congress “Mungerilal Ke Haseen Sapne”.

Mungerilal Ke Haseen Sapne (The Beautiful Dreams of Mungerilal ) is a popular Indian television series that revolved around the life of its central character Mungerilal who dreams of the impossible.

Sarma while participating in a BJP-AGP-BPF alliance-organised peace rally in his home constituency town of Sualkuchi in Kamrup district said, “If someone is dreaming of starting a political party out of the ongoing protests in the state, then I must say he is having the Mungerilal Ke Haseen Sapne.”

Earlier, during an anti–Citizenship Amendment Act protest in the city, AASU hinted at the possibility of floating a political front in consultation with artists, intellectuals and the people of the state. However, the students’ organisation had said it would remain apolitical.

Sarma added, “Like the Assam Movement gave birth to the Asom Gana Parishad, many might be wishing that they will also form a political front out of the ongoing situation in the state. But I am sure that if it becomes a reality, all those who will be contesting the elections will lose all their dreams and money.” He said the BJP will gain at least 100 of the 126 seats in the state polls slated to be held in 2021.

AASU chief adviser Samujjal Kumar Bhattacharjya said, “We are in consultation with like-minded groups that participated in the Assam Movement to constitute a common platform to take the anti-CAA movement forward. AASU is reaching out to the groups whose ideology and working style are similar to us. Besides, all anti-CAA groups are also in touch with us.”

On the possible formation of a political front, Bhattacharjya said, “Right now our prime objective is to make the government withdraw the Act. The rest of the matter is in the public domain and the people of the state will decide on them.” AASU said all student groups in the state have their parts of responsibilities in asserting its voice against the “state’s wrongdoings”.

Popular Assamese singer Zubeen Garg, who already expressed his support to any such alternate front, has dared the BJP to win the 2021 elections. The Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuva Chatra Parishad too supported the idea of a common platform of all anti-CAA groups.