Desk Report, February 15, 2024: In a swift response to public endorsements of the Himanta Biswa Sarma-led BJP government, the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) has issued show cause notices to MLAs Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha and Basanta Das.
President Bhupen Borah, through the show cause notices, demands a response within a day after Purkayastha’s resignation as the working president of the Assam Congress. The MLAs, expressing allegiance to CM Sarma, face scrutiny for their U-turn on issues like corruption, land scams, and job cases.
“It has come to the notice of Hon’ble APCC President Sri Bhupen Kumar Borah that you have made statements before media offering your support to the state BJP Government on development issues and publicly expressed your faith and allegiance to the CM Assam Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma. It was observed by Hon’ble President APCC that you raised your voice against BJP Govt’s rampant corruptions, Land Scams, Suferi Syndicate, Case for Job and many issues. At a time when you openly expressed support to BJP Govt, Hon’ble President APCC, wants to know whether you will support above-cited corruptions and other objectionable issues,” reads the show cause notice.
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Earlier today, the Congress party faced a jolt as Purkayastha and Das extended their open support to Assam Chief Minister. Purkayastha, while resigning as the working president, retained primary membership. Congress MLAs Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha and Basanta Das met and felicitated Assam CM, shifting allegiance in the Assam Legislative Assembly.
Amidst multiple leaders defecting to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, the Congress grapples with a challenging situation. On January 28, Angkita Dutta, expelled president of Assam Youth Congress, and former MLA Bismita Gogoi joined the BJP, leveling various allegations against the party leadership. Dutta specifically criticized Rahul Gandhi.
Recent shifts in the tone of Pradyut Bordoloi, sitting MP of Nagaon, sparked rumors of his possible replacement by Gaurav Gogoi and a potential move to the BJP. Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha’s recent announcement to support the Assam Chief Minister indicates the looming possibility of more Congress members joining the BJP, heightening the Congress party’s challenges ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.