The Congress which has been in power for three consecutive terms in Assam is seemingly heading for a split with some of the senior party leaders not only revolting against party president Anjan Dutta and Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi but also threatening to launch a new party.
The developments assume significance as the party had suffered a setback in the last year’s lok Sabha elections in Assam. At least five senior Congress leaders have openly aired their grievances against the party president Anjan Dutta and said that he has always been biased in taking decisions on party matters and that if this trend continues, the party will suffer losses in the next year’s elections.
One of the rebels and senior Congress member, Hiranya Bora even demanded the party president to resign on the ground that he (Dutta) was quizzed by the CBI for his alleged involvement in the multi-crore Saradha chit fund scam.
Bora also raised fingers on the educational qualification of the APCC president and said that the APCC president had furnished different details of educational qualification at different times. Four other colleagues of Bora include, former lok Sabha member Bolin Kuli, Rana Khan, Adil Shah and Diganta Kalita.
“The condition of the party is not very good. We have suffered in the last year’s lok Sabha polls and we need a leader who can take everyone along and work for strengthening the party ahead of the next year’s polls,” said Kuli while adding that they would be left with no other option but to form a new political party if the situation remains unchanged.
All the five have, however, been show caused by the APCC for anti-party activities — to which they have refused to answer. APCC media secretary and former Assam Education Minister Ripun Bora, however, said that they would not tolerate any anti-party activities. “Defying Anjan Dutta is equal to defying AICC leadership as Dutta was selected by the AICC to lead the PCC. There would be action against anyone who defies the party discipline and decorum,” Bora said while trying to quell the rebellion within the party.
It may be mentioned here that the Congress Government led by Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi suffered dissidence last year with a section of MlAs demanding change in the leadership. The dissidence was, however, settled by intervention of senior AICC leaders including Mallikarjun Kharge.