Journal of Contemporary Politics

Abstract

The existential crisis of the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), the prominent ethno-regional party in Northeast India, demonstrates that ethno-regionalism may tender only short-term political dividends to the party unless it transforms into a party to carry out a vision of development that would address the material well-being of people. In other words, the ideology and mobilisation of an ethno-regional party may not be sustainable if it deviates from its strategy from the everyday life process of development. Moreover, the BJP’s glowing strategy of championing ethno-regionalism along with its Hindu nationalist ideology and its alliance with the AGP cost more adverse impact on the latter’s mass base and thereby dwindling its electoral space in the Assam politics.