GUWAHATI: Congress in Assam received a jolt on Wednesday as two of its MLAs — PCC working president Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha and former minister in Tarun Gogoi-govt Basanta Das — extended support to the BJP-led govt.
Both the leaders said they have decided to support the present govt to usher in development in their constituencies. They, however, have not quit the party yet.But Purkayastha has resigned from the post of working president.
Earlier, two other Congress MLAs — Siddeque Ahmed and Sashikanta Das — were suspended from Congress for supporting the BJP-led govt from the opposition bench.
“Two leading members of the Congress Legislature Party, Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha and Basanta Das, have decided to support all the constructive works of the BJP govt in state and at the Centre by showing respect to the leadership of PM Narendra Modi and relentless pro-people schemes of the Assam and Union govt,” CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said, while welcoming both the MLAs in his chamber on the assembly premises here on Wednesday.
Sarma added that Rahul is doing “Bharat Todo Anyay Yatra” but now it has become “Congress Todo Yatra”.
“Congress MLAs are with me today. This is my gift to Rahul Gandhi,” he said.
Sarma said he respects the decision of the two MLAs and better coordination will help in ‘special development’ of Karimganj North constituency represented by Purkayastha and Mangaldoi represented by Das. Purkayastha said he has seen the ‘development vision’ of the Assam CM — development of the assembly, constituency, Assam and people of Assam.
“Within the constituency, assembly or for development of Assam, we will support the govt but I will continue to be a Congress MLA,” said Purkayastha. “I am still a Congress MLA. I also represent the Scheduled Caste. For the development of Mangaldoi constituency and my community, I have decided to support the development works of the govt,” Das said.
Sarma claimed that it has become difficult for Congress MLAs to expedite development of their constituencies, alleging that the opposition party has barred their them from attending meetings of ministers and govt programmes.
He said six to seven Congress MLAs have expressed their dissatisfaction before him in the last few days. In the meanwhile, Assam PCC president Bhupen Borah said he has brought the matter to the notice of AICC general secretary incharge of Assam, Jitendra Singh.
Both the leaders said they have decided to support the present govt to usher in development in their constituencies. They, however, have not quit the party yet.But Purkayastha has resigned from the post of working president.
Earlier, two other Congress MLAs — Siddeque Ahmed and Sashikanta Das — were suspended from Congress for supporting the BJP-led govt from the opposition bench.
“Two leading members of the Congress Legislature Party, Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha and Basanta Das, have decided to support all the constructive works of the BJP govt in state and at the Centre by showing respect to the leadership of PM Narendra Modi and relentless pro-people schemes of the Assam and Union govt,” CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said, while welcoming both the MLAs in his chamber on the assembly premises here on Wednesday.
Sarma added that Rahul is doing “Bharat Todo Anyay Yatra” but now it has become “Congress Todo Yatra”.
“Congress MLAs are with me today. This is my gift to Rahul Gandhi,” he said.
Sarma said he respects the decision of the two MLAs and better coordination will help in ‘special development’ of Karimganj North constituency represented by Purkayastha and Mangaldoi represented by Das. Purkayastha said he has seen the ‘development vision’ of the Assam CM — development of the assembly, constituency, Assam and people of Assam.
“Within the constituency, assembly or for development of Assam, we will support the govt but I will continue to be a Congress MLA,” said Purkayastha. “I am still a Congress MLA. I also represent the Scheduled Caste. For the development of Mangaldoi constituency and my community, I have decided to support the development works of the govt,” Das said.
Sarma claimed that it has become difficult for Congress MLAs to expedite development of their constituencies, alleging that the opposition party has barred their them from attending meetings of ministers and govt programmes.
He said six to seven Congress MLAs have expressed their dissatisfaction before him in the last few days. In the meanwhile, Assam PCC president Bhupen Borah said he has brought the matter to the notice of AICC general secretary incharge of Assam, Jitendra Singh.