GUWAHATI, Oct 23 - In what can be described as a clear sign of dissatisfaction within the ruling party, BJP�s Duliajan MLA Terosh Gowalla today announced his resignation from the Legislative Assembly expressing unhappiness over being kept in the dark regarding appointment for the post of new chairperson of the Assam Gas Company Ltd (AGCL).
Gowalla�s decision came just a day after Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal appointed chairpersons and vice chairpersons of various State government companies and corporations.
Among the new appointees, BJP MLA from Sadiya constituency Bolin Chetia has been made the chairperson of AGCL with the rank and status of a cabinet minister.
AGCL�s headquarter is located at Duliajan.
Gowalla, miffed at being kept in the dark on the issue, sent his resignation to the Chief Minister this morning. However, till now he has not submitted his resignation to the Speaker of the Assam Legislative Assembly.
�I am an MLA and our party runs the governments both in Delhi and Dispur. So people have faith as well as lots of expectation from us. I have not been able to fulfil expectations of the people of my constituency. And so, I have accepted my failure and my moral responsibility and sent my resignation to the Chief Minister who is also the leader of our BJP Legislature Party,� Gowalla told The Assam Tribune.
�I have not yet sent it (resignation) to the Speaker of the Assembly. I am holding talks with the party cadres of my constituency and if they say I will send my resignation to the Speaker in a day or two,� the former tea tribe leader turned BJP lawmaker said.
Asked if the new appointment at the AGCL is a reason for his decision, Gowalla said, �That is true. It (the company) is located at Duliajan and yet the appointment was made without keeping me in the loop. I am not asking for the position for myself. But at least I should have been consulted before the announcement was made.�
Meanwhile, the opposition Congress party said that Gowalla�s resignation points to factional fighting within the BJP.
�At a time when people of Assam have come into the streets to fight for their very existence and on a day when various organisations called for a state-wide bandh against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, it is unfortunate that a person who became MLA by contesting the polls on the issue of preserving the jati, mati and bheti of Assam has tendered his resignation from the Legislative Assembly just because he was not selected for the post of chairperson of a company. This shows the opportunistic mindset of the concerned legislator as well as prevalence of factional politics in the BJP,� said State Congress spokesperson Rhituparna Konwar.
�Gowalla has sought votes from the electorate for becoming an MLA and not for the post of some chairperson. This is nothing but a drama and pressure tactic. If he was serious, he would have directly sent his resignation letter to the Speaker instead of only to the Chief Minister,� he added.
