Major Jolt to AAP in Assam: State President, Women’s Wing Leader Quit Ahead of Panchayat Elections

Guwahati: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) suffered a major political setback in Assam on Friday as its state president, Manoj Dhanowar, stepped down from his position. In another blow, Masuma Begum, the party’s women’s wing president in Assam, not only resigned from her post but also quit the party altogether. The resignations come just weeks before the crucial Panchayat elections, dealing a fresh challenge to AAP’s expansion efforts in the region.

With the elections scheduled for May 2 and May 7, the resignation of two key leaders threatens to disrupt AAP’s organizational strength in rural Assam. Dhanowar, in a social media post, shared his resignation letter, which was sent to AAP’s national general secretary (organisation), Sandeep Pathak, on January 2. Citing “unavoidable circumstances” for his decision, he thanked the party leadership and stated that he would continue as a volunteer.

According to state party leaders, Dhanowar had been inactive for months, prompting the party to appoint national joint secretary Bhaben Choudhury as the acting state president last month. AAP’s state secretary Amlanjyoti Hatibaruah found it “strange” that Dhanowar made his resignation public after four months. “Probably his resignation was not accepted,” he remarked, adding that the party had to take organizational steps due to his prolonged absence.

Meanwhile, Masuma Begum’s resignation came just hours after she addressed a press conference on the upcoming elections. In her letter, she formally stepped down from her position and quit AAP. Notably, Begum was the only AAP candidate to win a seat in the 2022 Guwahati Municipal Corporation elections.

The Panchayat elections in Assam will be conducted in two phases across 27 districts. The first phase on May 2 will cover Upper Assam and Barak Valley districts, while the second phase on May 7 will cover central and western Assam. The vote counting is scheduled for May 11.