Trouble seems to be brewing in the ruling Congress in Assam with the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) suspending four sitting MlAs for welcoming rebel Congress MlA and former Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on the day he joined the BJP. There are reports doing the rounds also that more loyalists of the rebel Congress leader are likely to leave the Congress and join the BJP in Assam soon.
The APCC has suspended four legislators — Nalbari MlA Jayanta Malla Baruah, Behali MlA Pallab lochan Das, Raha MlA Piyush Hazarika and Junai MlA Pradan Baruah - and asked them to explain their position for hailing Sarma on Friday when he came to Guwahati and joined the BJP. The PCC had given a deadline of 15 days to explain their position.
Besides, the APCC has also showcaused another five Congress legislators Abu Taher Bepari (Golakganj), Balin Chetia (Sadiya), Kripanath Mallah (South Karimganj), Binanda Saikia (Sipajhar) and Rajen Borthakur (Tezpur) for their involvement in anti-party activities.
The APCC move came after the nine legislators remained present at the airport on last Friday along with the BJP leaders and supporters of Sarma to welcome him. Sarma had on August 23 met BJP president Amit Shah in New Delhi and decided to shift allegiance. On August 28, he came back to Guwahati and formally joined the BJP.
The suspended and showcaused Congress legislators, however, expressed their happiness for being suspended and said that they would love to work with Sarma for the progress of Assam in the days to come. “A section of Congress leaders have been trying to sideline the young party leaders like us. My suspension is a part of the same plan. They have first sidelined Sarma and now it is our turn. However, I am loyal to Sarma and would be waiting to work with him in the days to come,” said suspended Congress MlA Jayanta Malla Baruah.
Raha legislator Piyush Hazarika also welcomed the move and dared APCC president Anjan Dutta to expel him from the party. “What I did was not wrong. I am happy and I would rather be relieved to be expelled from the Congress,” Hazarika said.