Silchar, Aug 17: A day after former All India Mahila Congress Chief and ex-Silchar MP Sushmita Dev joined the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) in Kolkata, as many as 34 Congress leaders and workers of the party tendered their resignation from the primary membership of Congress and unanimously echoed to work to strengthen AITC at the grassroots in Barak Valley.
Among those who quit the Congress party include Rajesh Deb, general secretary (organisation) of the Silchar DCC, Rahul Alam Laskar, general secretary (admin) Silchar DCC, Papan Deb, general secretary Silchar DCC, Sajal Banik, president Silchar Town Congress committee, Anupam Paul, president INTUC Cachar, Shyam Sundar Kalwar and others. The leaders held a meeting at a separate venue to speak their mind on the developments.
"We have seen how the BJP and even the Congress have put hurdles in the way of development of Barak Valley which is unfortunate. But, we have been inspired by the work done by the AITC chairperson and Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee. Our leader Sushmita Dev has always worked for the people, especially the Bengali speaking population and we too feel motivated to work for the party at the grassroots amidst challenges. I believe those who have close connections with the former Silchar MP and even with us but somehow associated with the Congress party will eventually join the the AITC and work with us ," Papan Deb said.
He added to inform that the West Bengal Chief Minister might visit Silchar within next two months and said "we will not wait to be inducted in the AITC. Our leader Sushmita Dev has joined the party and under her guidance we have already started to work as a cohesive unit for the AITC."
Earlier in the day, the meeting at the Congress Bhawan in Silchar in the presence of APCC working president and North Karimganj legislator Kamalakshya Dey Purkayastha, Borkhola MLA Misbahul Islam Laskar, former minister Ajit Singh, Congress veteran and former Rajya Sabha MP Kamalendu Bhattacharjee, DCC president Pradip Deb saw utter chaos and disorder as there were heavy verbal duel between some of the party cadres. Kamalakshya, however said, " We are here to re-strengthen our party and resolve to work with more vigour and focus and maintain decency in the work ethics at the Silchar DCC."
Interestingly Sushmita Dev, who is in New Delhi, in a telephonic conversation with The Assam Tribune said "I have had discussion with the AITC chairperson on Assam and how should we go ahead working for the party to prosper from the grassroots. It is not a compulsion for anyone to leave any party and join us. But yes, if people feel that they can be on the same page to work with us and give time, they are welcome."
