Crisis in Assam Congress as rebels threaten to split party

NEW DELHI: The Congress leadership is trying to avert a split in its Assam state unit, after party rebels opposed to chief minister Tarun Gogoi and PCC chief Anjan Dutta served an ultimatum about their resolve to break off by July 18. Amid speculation that the rebels were readying to float a regional party, AICC general secretary CP Joshi and others held talks with rebel leader Himanta Biswa Sarma in New Delhi in the last two days. Assam, one of the few remaining major states governed by Congress, goes to the polls early next year.

Rebel leader Sarma and his supporters reached Delhi after four senior state Congress leaders — Hiranya Bora, Digambo Kalitha, Adil Shah and Bolin Kulty — quit the party after accusing Gogoi and Dutta of colluding to sideline mainstream leaders.

Though AICC had earlier overlooked Sarma when he had led a campaign against Gogoi, the high command has been compelled to reach out to him now for negotiations after its assessment that there was a serious rebellion brewing. “Yes, there are some issues in the Assam Congress. We are trying to deal with the situation,” a senior Congress leader told ET.

The rebels may not be in an immediate position to topple the Tarun Gogoi regime, but what has alerted AICC representatives is the backdrop of the revolt. There are indications that Sarma, who had earlier come under the CBI scanner in the Saradha chit fund scam, much to the relief of the Gogoi-Dutta camp, has reportedly offered to turn approver in the case. This and the timing of the latest revolt have left Congress leaders worried about a possible BJP hand behind it.

The rebels are also reportedly plotting to align their new party with the All India United Democratic Front led by Badruddin Ajmal, a former Congress ally but now seen inclined towards the Narendra Modi regime. Incidentally, the BJP has been working on an ambitious expansion plan in Assam.