In a significant political development in Assam, Bimal Baruah, the elder brother of ULFA (Independent) President and ULFA Commander-in-Chief Paresh Baruah, has joined the Assam Gana Parishad (AGP), the ruling coalition’s regional party. The announcement was made at a joining ceremony held in the newly formed Chabua-Lahwal assembly constituency.
Bimal Baruah, a social worker from Chabua and an executive member of the Matak Autonomous Council, stated that he had joined the AGP while other members of the council had opted for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). In his remarks, Baruah emphasized his nationalist credentials, saying, “I have the blood of nationalism in my body. That is what I am revealing to you today.”
Despite the opportunity to join the BJP, Bimal Baruah chose the AGP, citing the “interest of the Assam nation.” He also expressed his intention to raise the issue of resolving the ULFA conflict, given the alliance between the AGP and the BJP.
“I could have joined the Bharatiya Janata Party, but I have joined the Assam Gana Parishad for the interest of the Assam nation,” Baruah said, adding that he would hold discussions with AGP President Atul Bora and Executive President Keshav Mahanta to address the ULFA issue.
The Baruah family has a complex history with the ULFA. In 1994, Paresh Baruah and another brother of Bimal Baruah, Dinesh Baruah, were assassinated by unknown assailants. In 2018, Bimal Baruah’s son, Munna Baruah, followed in his uncle’s footsteps and joined the ULFA (Independent), using the alias “Roop Assam” before disappearing into the dense jungles of Myanmar, according to ULFA (Independent) sources.
The ULFA (Independent) signed a tripartite agreement with the Government of India and the Government of Assam in Delhi on December 27 to end the four-decade-long struggle. However, Paresh Baruah, the ULFA (Independent) President and Army Chief, is still holding on to the fight for Assam’s sovereignty.
The development of Bimal Baruah joining the AGP amidst the ongoing ULFA peace talks raises questions about the potential impact on the negotiations and Paresh Baruah’s response to his elder brother’s political affiliation. As Assam’s political landscape continues to evolve, the resolution of the ULFA conflict remains a crucial issue for the state’s future.