Assam: As the April turnout elections in Assam approach, there is a stir in the Congress party. Senior state-level leader and Vice President of Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) Navjyoti Talukdar resigned from the primary membership of the party on Tuesday. He moreover resigned from all his posts, like Vice President and AICC membership. This step is stuff considered very harmful for Congress in the electoral environment, considering the party is once struggling with the throw-away of many big leaders.
Who is this leader and what did he say in his resignation?
Navjyoti Talukdar has been zippy in the party for a long time and was the vice president of APCC. In his resignation letter to AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge, he has expressed his long-standing displeasure with the functioning of the party. He wrote that there was a lack of coordination in the party, his complaints were ignored, and despite repeated talks there was no improvement. He unmistakably said that standing in the party in such a situation is neither winning nor beneficial. Talukdar said that his resignation will be constructive immediately.
Why is there a wave of dissatisfaction within the party?
This resignation is not alone. Several big names in the Assam Congress have resigned in the last few weeks – names like former APCC president Bhupen Bora, IT lamina vice president Nityanand Das, Sonitpur district vice president Girindra Bhuyan, and most recently Nagaon MP Pradyut Bordoloi have come to light. Many leaders are unhappy with Gaurav Gogoi's leadership, ticket distribution and internal decisions. There has been a inflowing of resignations since the second candidate list came out – some citing personal reasons, but most raising questions on the leadership and direction of the party. All this together is showing a deep rift in the party.
Will this stupefy the elections?
The throw-away of senior leaders just weeks surpassing the elections weakens the organization. In Assam, Congress is once facing a rencontre from BJP, and in such a situation, the morale of the workers at the ground level may fall. Opposition parties will try to take wholesomeness of this – BJP is once whistle-stop for the "breakup" of Congress. Ticket distribution and dissatisfaction among the candidates may stupefy the party's referendum strategy. Whistle-stop will wilt difficult due to lack of local leaders in many areas.
Will Congress be worldly-wise to handle this situation?
This is now the biggest test for the party upper command. Gaurav Gogoi and the Delhi leadership will have to quickly talk to the disgruntled leaders, convince them, and alimony the organization united. If this trend continues, Congress's hopes in Assam may remoter weaken. It remains to be seen in the coming days whether the party can recover from these setbacks or not – considering the elections are near now, and time is less. This moment can prove to be very decisive for Congress in Assam politics.
