20-member committee formed to look after organisational matters of Silchar Congress

Aug 18: A 20-member advisory committee was formed under Manikanta Sinha as Sr. Vice President of Silchar District Congress Committee (DCC) to look after the all round organisational matters of Silchar DCC in absence of the DCC President. Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) President Bhupen Kumar Borah has asked  Manikanta Sinha to manage all party related work in consultation with the members of the Advisory Committee of Silchar DCC until further.

In an order issued by APCC General Secretary Bobbeeta Sharma on 18 August, 13 members were inducted as members of the Advisory Committee. However, later on during the day, another 7 members were also included in the Advisory Committee. That means, the Advisory Committee will now comprise of a total 20 members.

1. Ajit Singh:- Ex-Minister
2. Misbahul Islam Laskar:- MLA Borkhola
3. Khalil Uddin Mazumder:- MLA Katigorah
4. Partha Ranjan Chakrabarty
5. Tamal Banik
6. Jalal Ahmed Mazumder
7. Sujan Dutta
8. Kishore Bhattacharjee
9. Abhijit Paul
10. Arun Dutta Mazumdar
11. Sajal Acharjee
12. Babul Hore
13. Sarifuzaman Laskar
14. Girindra Mallik, Ex-Minister
15. Kamakhya Mala
16. Mukesh Pandey
17. K.Atan Singh
18. Amitava Sen
19. Simanta Bhattacharjee
20. Debadeep Dutta

The resignation of former Silchar MP & President of All India Mahila Congress, Sushmita Dev was indeed a bolt from the blue for the party. As she stepped into the corridors of All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) on 16 August, Silchar District Congress Committee (DCC) convened an emergent meeting on 17 August. The high voltage meeting of Silchar DCC was attended by Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha, Working President of APCC, MLA’s, Ex-MLA’s, office bearers of Silchar DCC, President and General Secretary of Block Congress Committees, heads of frontal wings/ cells/ departments. After a long time, such a huge gathering was discerned in the Congress Office.

In the meeting, Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha said that Congress will give a befitting reply to all in the forthcoming days. He tried to infuse a new lease of life among the party workers present in the meeting. However, things assumed an ugly turn just after the speech of Kamalakhya. The house witnessed utter chaos and disorder as a bitter verbal duel broke out between some of the party cadres.

Questions were raised by some regarding the absence of many of the office bearers of the Congress. That was enough to ignite a spark which led to alteration of words between the party workers. Meanwhile, situation became much more worst when a few raised “Sushmita Dev Murdabad” slogans. Ansar Hussain Barlaskar, a suspended Congress party-man demanded a reply from the leaders on the dias as regards actions which would be taken against those who skipped the party meeting. Ajit Singh and Sanjib Roy tried to calm Ansar which further infuriated him. Finally, Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha intervened and assured that explanation will definitely be sought from those who were absent.

Meanwhile, around 34 office bearers of Silchar Congress refrained from attending the meeting and rather they convened a press meet and announced the decision of partying ways with the Congress. Addressing the media, Papan Deb, General Secretary of Silchar DCC said, “Today 34 of us from the various wings of district Congress, Youth Congress, NSUI, Seva Dal, Youth Brigade etc. have decided to quit the party. In the meantime, we have already send our resignation letters to the President of District Congress.”