Thaindian News

Guwahati, March 13 (IANS) With less then three weeks for the first phase of voting for assembly elections in Assam, leaders of almost all the major political parties continue to be busy quelling internal rebellions.

The worst hit is Assam’s main opposition party Asom Gana Parishad (AGP).

Several prominent leaders who were denied tickets to contest the two-phased elections April 4 and 11 are up in arms, while some senior leaders who unsuccessfully backed some ticket aspirants are also sulking.

“I have decided to resign from the party as I faced discrimination from the leadership,” Israel Nanda, a senior AGP leader and a noted tea garden community leader, told IANS Sunday.

Nanda had sought an AGP ticket for the Tinsukia assembly seat, but was denied this.

The AGP has so far announced candidates for about 100 seats.

“I am contemplating quitting as party vice president as the leadership did not take my views while choosing candidates from my constituency (Tezpur parliamentary seat),” AGP MP Joseph Toppo said.

Such has been the extent of revolt that at least half-a-dozen senior leaders have already resigned and some are contemplating contesting as independents.

“I definitely see a secret understanding between the AGP and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as the party decided to field a weak candidate against the BJP and so decided against fielding me,” Satyabrata Kalita, another senior AGP leader, said.

“I am quitting the party and would most probably fight as an independent candidate,” he declared.

The BJP too is riddled with internal revolt.

BJP supporters last week vanadalised the party headquarters in Guwahati after allegations that the party has fielded weak candidates to ensure the victory of some senior AGP leaders.

“It is true, grassroots level workers have revolted in many districts against the list of candidates and I think the state president Ranjit Dutta and a few other leaders, who were responsible for the list, have a major responsibility now,” BJP MP from Mangaldoi Ramen Deka told IANS.

“I think never in BJP’s history has such a controversy happened (referring to allegations of a secret AGP-BJP understanding in fielding weak candidates against each other).”

The ruling Congress party too is not free from internal rebellion after the list of 118 candidates was announced Sunday.

In several places, Congress party supporters burnt effigies of senior leaders, unhappy over the choice of candidates.

“We would resign from the party as we are extremely unhappy over ticket being alloted to Durlav Chamua from the Nagaon seat,” Congress leaders in the district said.