The Assam PCC has served showcause notices to two of its
MLAs
— Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha and Basanta Das — who announced their support to the BJP-led govt from the
opposition bench
, even as the party opened a “war room” on Thursday for implementation of poll strategies in constituencies and management of Lok Sabha election-related activities from the Rajiv Bhawan in Guwahati.
PCC president Bhupen Borah said the party will go into the Lok Sabha polls with its trusted leaders. He added that BJP will not even win win 10 out of 14 Lok Sabha seats in Assam. While reports are doing the rounds that at least five more Congress MLAs may support BJP govt, Borah said he personally spoke to those MLAs who assured him of being with Congress. “No more MLA will leave us and join BJP. They told me Congress is in their veins,” Borah added.
Borah said, the state PCC will maintain communication with its booth committees and dedicated workers from the “war room” that has 12 computers and over 100 smartphones. “From there, plans will be executed based on the strategies taken by the AICC and the APCC for the Lok Sabha constituencies,” said co-chairman of the “war room” Sanju Baruah.
Based on the experience, Congress will continue its work till the 2026 assembly polls, Borah said.
In the meanwhile, through the showcause notice issued late on Wednesday, Borah asked Purkayastha and Das to clarify their stand and intentions within a day. “Your statements and actions have created misgivings in the minds of party workers and tarnished the image of Congress,” read the notice, asking the duo why the party should not initiate disciplinary action against them.
Purkayastha, on the other hand, trained guns at the state Congress leadership, accusing it of floating alliances in Assam that are “insignificant”. “Instead of being in hand-in-gloves secretly, it’s better to seek development of the people of Assam openly by supporting the govt,” Purkayastha said, praising the Himanta Biswa Sarma-govt.
He also took a dig at Rahul Gandhi for allegedly scolding Congress MLAs during Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Assam after Akhil Gogoi termed Congress MLAs ‘inactive’ in front of Rahul and Borah. “Akhil was complaining against Congress MLAs and Rahul was criticizing us. At that moment, Borah was laughing. He should have guarded us,” alleged Purkayastha.
English (US) ·