GUWAHATI, July 20: Former Assam home minister Bhrigu Kumar Phukan has been suspended from the primary membership of the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) for alleged anti-party activities.

The decision was taken at the party's 15-member steering committee meeting which concluded late last night at the party office here.

AGP vice president Nurul Hussain said the steering committee took note of Phukan's activities in ``maligning'' the image of the party in the media and decided to suspend him from AGP's primary membership for his alleged attempts to ``dislodge'' the AGP-led alliance government and breaking party discipline.

In a recent interview to a local daily, Phukan had criticised Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta for allegedly failing to solve the outstanding problems of the state and said it was ``time for him to go''.

Hussain said the matter would be placed at the party's Central committee meeting, to be held on August 3 next, which would be followed by a meeting of the party's Central House.

Phukan, earlier a close friend of Mahanta, was the home minister during the 1985-90 AGP regime but subsequently fell out with the chief minister after criticising his leadership.

He caused a split in the AGP by forming a new outfit, Natun Asom Gana Parishad (NAGP). However, he later rejoined the AGP with his supporters.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.