GG News Bureau
Guwahati, 21st Dec. Congress MLA Sashi Kanta Das “joined” the BJP government in Assam on Monday, the first day of the winter session of the Assembly.
Das will work in association with the government, though he will not resign from the party immediately, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.
Congress has slapped a show cause notice on MLA Sashi Kanta Das within hours and asked him to clarify his stand and intentions within a day.
The show cause issued by Assam Congress general secretary Bobbeeta Sharma said that Das was seen under full media glare offering support to the BJP government and his allegiance to Sarma and BJP state unit president Bhabesh Kalita.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and BJP state unit president Bhabesh Kalita welcomed MLA Sashi Kanta Das at the chief minister’s chamber inside the Assembly complex while the House was in progress.
“Das has decided to join the government to develop Raha constituency from where he was elected. It is not decided yet whether he will join our political party,” Sarma told reporters.
Das will continue to remain a Congress MLA and not resign from it immediately, he said.
Das is a first time MLA from Raha in Nagaon district who has been in Congress for several decades since his NSUI days. He was elected from the seat in the Assembly poll held earlier this year.
Asked if Das will attend the BJP legislature party meetings, Sarma said “Sometimes, he will sit in our room. But in the House, he will sit with the Congress.”
Answering a question if there will be a by-poll in Raha in view of the development, he said “There are two systems. First by-election will take place in some constituencies and second there will be no by-poll but the opposition MLAs will work with us.”
MLA Das said that he is impressed by the proactive steps initiated by the Sarma-led government for the development of all communities in Assam.
“I have trusted Sarma for many years. I met him for some developmental issues of Raha and he was very positive about them. I am with the government for developmental purposes only, but have not decided anything on leaving Congress,” he added.
Asked repeatedly by scribes whether he will join the BJP, the Congress MLA said “The situation has not arisen yet. I am still a Congress MLA and will sit with them. I will support development.”
When asked whether he will accompany Congress legislators in case of a walkout in the House over an issue, Das said “If the issue is logical, then I will be with them (Congress).”
The Congress show cause to Das said that his statements and actions have created “misgivings” in the minds of party workers and “tarnished its image and discipline”.
Leader of the Opposition Debabrata Saikia (Cong) said Das has been in Congress since the bad days for the party and his move “is a shocking development for us”.
“Das was tortured by the ULFA for being in Congress. Such was his commitment to the party. We did not anticipate this when the House was in the first day of its winter session,” Saikia said.
Former minister and senior Congress MLA Rakibul Hussain, with whom Das shares a close association, claimed that the move was planned inside the Assembly complex and took place on the first day of winter session to deviate the party’s attention from “crucial issues”.
The opposition, including the Congress staged a walkout in the Assembly amidst chaotic scenes on Monday after Speaker Biswajit Daimary rejected an adjournment motion moved by the party to discuss the alleged land scam by a company co-founded by the chief minister’s wife.
Comments are closed.