Guwahati, Jan 5: The Assam Congress has decided to challenge Assam Legislative Assembly Speaker Biswajit Daimary’s decision to reject a disqualification petition against suspended Congress MLA Sherman Ali. Assam Congress chief Bhupen Kumar Borah announced on Sunday that the party would move the courts, possibly escalating the matter to the Supreme Court if needed.
Filed by Rakibul Hussain, then deputy leader of the Assam Congress Legislature Party (ACLP), the disqualification petition accused Sherman Ali of defecting under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution. Evidence included media statements and video footage showing Ali attending public meetings organized by other political parties and discouraging votes for Congress candidates.
Ali was suspended from the Congress Party in October 2021 for repeatedly violating party rules and undermining its constitution. Speaker Daimary rejected the petition, which Congress leaders consider unprecedented and harmful to legislative decorum.
Speaker’s ruling will damage BJP, dishonour Assam Agitation martyrs
“The Speaker’s ruling will damage BJP’s political credibility as well, suggesting that such decisions might erode public trust in democratic institutions,” Borah said and criticized Ali for dishonouring martyrs of the Assam Agitation and Assamese sentiments, a stance supported by various parties and organizations.
“We have suspended him from the party because he had dishonoured the martyrs of the Assam Agitation. And for the blood that was shed by the martyrs and which brought a regional party to power twice in Assam. I described him as politically inefficient. Because he protected the MLA at the detect of the Chief Minister and dishonoured the martyrs,” the Congress leader said.
“He also dishonoured the essence of the Assamese people. When Sherman Ali passed his comment against Assam martyrs, then many parties and organizations issued statements stating that they would watch the decision of the congress party on it. I now hope the party and organization should watch the decision of the Speaker,” Borah said.
Borah emphasized the historical significance of the Assam Agitation, which led to the Assam Accord in 1985, signed in the presence of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. He noted that Ali’s actions and comments undermine the sacrifices of the agitation’s martyrs.
Borah claimed the Speaker’s ruling could damage the BJP, the exact implications depend on how the court proceedings unfold and public perception of the Speaker’s decision.
Congress rules out alliance for panchayat polls
Borah clarified that there would be no alliance with the ASOM (anti-BJP alliance) group for the upcoming panchayat elections. He said Congress District Committees (DCCs) have been authorized to decide on alliances with anti-BJP parties in their respective localities, but no statewide partnerships will be formed.
Borah hinted at possible alliances after the panchayat polls and plans for joint programmes with other parties.
He said the Congress Party is gearing up for panchayat elections by issuing applications for aspiring candidates and initiating organizational restructuring.
He also said a 90% reshuffle of party office bearers is planned to strengthen the party’s structure. Borah emphasized assigning roles based on merit.
“Congress plans to begin grassroots campaigns like the Jonai to Sonai Padayatra and the Sadiya to Mandia Yatra after the panchayat elections,” Borah also said.
Borah said candidate selection for the 2026 Assembly elections will also be prioritized once 400 days remain until the polls.
BJP’s slogans and performance
Borah accused the BJP of failing to deliver on its promise to deport foreigners and finalize the National Register of Citizens (NRC) for Assam, despite being in power for a decade at the Centre and eight years in the state.
He noted the contrast between Sarbananda Sonowal’s actions as the first BJP Chief Minister and Amit Shah’s claims of deporting 40 lakh foreigners.
Borah likened the BJP’s “Assam Shining” campaign to Vajpayee’s “India Shining” slogan, which, according to him, was rejected by voters in the 2004 Lok Sabha elections. He argued that the “Assam Shining” narrative benefits only a few elites while the common people struggle.
Borah further questioned Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s claims about Assam’s financial prospects, particularly the feasibility of borrowing ₹10 lakh crore by 2028 when the current GDP is ₹6.43 lakh crore.
He criticized the state’s rising fiscal deficit and loan dependency, likening them to individuals buying luxury items on a modest salary. “Assam’s per capita income stands at ₹1,53,787 annually (approximately ₹11,315 monthly), lagging behind neighbouring states like Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, and Mizoram,” Borah said and challenged the Chief Minister to improve Assam’s economic metrics to surpass these states.
Borah highlighted Assam’s 48% debt-to-GDP ratio as a concern, indicating precarious fiscal health. “We plan to install countdown clocks in party offices across the state to mark the remaining 400 days of the BJP government’s tenure, symbolizing their focus on challenging the BJP’s governance record,” he added.
