Assam: Cong serves show-cause notices to MLAs, leaders for ‘anti-party’ activities

Guwahati: The newly constituted disciplinary action committee of the Assam Congress has issued show-cause notices to three of its MLAs and two leaders for alleged “breach of party discipline.”

The five - served show-cause notices - are MLAs Abdur Rashid Mandal, Rekibuddin Ahmed and Bharat Chandra Narah, and Mahila Congress chief in Assam Mira Borthakur and Hailakandi district Congress president Samsuddin Barlaskar.

Both Abdur Rashid Mandal and Rekibuddin Ahmed are three-time legislators from Goalpara West and Chaygaon constituencies, respectively.  

On the other hand, Bharat Chandra Narah is serving his sixth term from Naoboicha constituency from 2021. He previously won from Dhakuakhana constituency for five consecutive terms from 1985-2011.

Narah was a cabinet minister from 1985-1987, 1988-1990 and 2001-2011. He was also former Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi’s Press Advisor with cabinet rank from 2012-2016. However, he resigned from the Indian National Congress on March 25, 2024.

The disciplinary committee has set a deadline of seven days for these leaders to respond.

In a press statement, the three-member disciplinary committee on Saturday (September 14, 2024) said it held several rounds of discussions, interactions and hearings with the grassroots party workers and leaders about the omission and commission of “anti-party” activities during the 2024 general elections.

“The committee received complaints, petitions and allegations numbering around 56 from different block Congress, district Congress, individual applicants and contesting candidates in the last LS elections,” the statement said.

It said the committee received complaints from as many as 15 districts of the state.

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The statement said the committee had consultations with AICC general secretary and Assam in-charge Jitendra Singh and state Congress chief Bhupen Kumar Borah regarding the allegations received from different districts and organs of the party who extended full support for a “fair” and “impartial” report within the framework of the Indian National Congress Constitution.

It said the disciplinary committee physically verified the ground realities in some of the areas under three district Congress committees.

“The whole exercise is aimed at identification of party members who were directly or indirectly involved in anti-party activities during the last Lok Sabha elections which is considered a breach of party discipline,” the statement added.  

“It is also noted that party members holding responsible positions speaking out of turn in front of electronic media and sharing public posts etc. in social media against party leadership, policies and ideologies adversely affect party image and create confusion and damage morale of rank and file of party workers,” it said.

The statement further said that after thorough investigation and careful consideration the disciplinary committee decided to issue show-cause notices to these leaders for “breach of party discipline.”

The Congress move comes more than three months after the parliamentary election results were declared and is “purportedly” seen as a part of an exercise by the grand old party to set its house in order before the 2026 state Assembly polls and send out a clear message that “internal sabotage” and “indiscipline” would not be tolerated.