Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Guwahati: Internal strife paralyzed the Assam Congress during a September 8 meeting to set the candidate list for the upcoming Silchar Municipal Corporation elections. The session at the Pak Road venue devolved into a shouting match between MLA Aminul Haque Laskar, city block committee president Atanu Bhattacharjee, and party worker Papon Dev. The meeting fell apart quickly.
Laskar pursued Bhattacharjee and Dev outside after they bolted from the room. Once the chaos settled, Laskar took aim at his own leadership. He claimed influential party members are forcing preferred candidates into minority-dominated wards despite failing to secure support in their own backyards.
The MLA made explosive claims regarding the integrity of the process. He accused local leaders of accepting bribes to influence nominations. Laskar stood firm on his grievances: "I would not allow such practices to take place as long as he remained in politics." This public breakdown highlights deep rifts within the party, leaving its readiness for the looming civic polls in serious doubt.
Updated at 9th September 2026 at 2:00pm
While the Congress house remains divided, the Raijor Dal is moving to fill the void. The party released its first slate of candidates for the Silchar Municipal Corporation race, tapping social worker Ajmal Hussain for Ward 27 and advocate Fateha Talukdar for Ward 7.
Javed Miadad Laskar, the district president for Raijor Dal, stated that the remaining names will drop soon. The party claims a stream of local leaders are jumping ship to join their ranks as the municipal contest looms.
Updated at 10th September 2026 at 1:49am
Raijor Dal candidates Ajmal Hussain and Fateha Talukdar staked their claims on local development and direct accessibility to voters in their respective wards. The party expects more defectors to join their ranks as they build out their ticket.
The BJP is fighting its own internal fires. Former MLA Dipayan Chakraborty shot down rumors he was ditching the party on September 9, calling the reports baseless and threatening legal heat against outlets spreading the claims. The veteran politician insists he remains loyal to the party brass amid the ongoing ticket fight.
Discontent boiled over in Ward 41, where BJP supporters trashed the party's choice of a candidate from a neighboring ward. Angry workers claimed the move sidelined local aspirants who served the area during floods and the pandemic. They vowed to back an independent runner instead. Voters say they are watching the friction closely, signaling that party loyalty may take a backseat to local performance when ballots are cast.
Updated at 10th September 2026 at 1:50pm
The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee broke its silence on September 9 by releasing an official candidate list for 39 wards. The document, signed off by APCC president Gaurav Gogoi, covers most of the municipal map. Party leadership is now scrambling to force unity, ordering district and block units to fall in line and back the declared picks despite the recent infighting.
Meanwhile, the revolt in BJP Ward 41 has hardened into a formal ultimatum. Supporters held a press conference on Wednesday to double down on their refusal to back the party's outsider choice from Ward 40. The group confirmed they are moving forward with an independent run, citing the party's failure to reward locals who hit the streets during the floods and the pandemic.
Updated at 10th September 2026 at 5:49pm
Internal chaos spilled into the Cachar District Congress Bhawan as angry workers allegedly trashed the office of district president Sajal Acharya. Protesters reportedly ripped the president's chair from his chamber and dragged it outside. The mob targeted party leaders over the snub of Partha Das in Ward 27, who was replaced by Susmita Das on the ticket list. Former MLA Misbahul Islam Laskar found himself surrounded by the crowd as they demanded answers.
Partha Das accused Acharya, City Congress president Atanu Bhattacharya, and Laskar of orchestrating his exclusion, further alleging that the party sold tickets for cash. These claims of vandalism and bribery remain unverified as party officials have yet to address the accusations.
In the BJP camp, the standoff in Ward 41 reached a breaking point. Protesters held a press conference confirming they are officially cutting ties with the party's choice to field an independent runner. They cited a long history of local service during recent floods and the pandemic as their primary justification for the break.
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