With new party in-charge at helm, Congress hopes to resolve internal issues in Assam

GUWAHATI: Congress has shuffled its leadership in Assam, bringing in AICC general secretary Jitendra Singh to replace Harish Rawat as the state’s in-charge with hopes of ending internal feuds as barely six months are left for the assembly polls.
The three lobbies — one headed by Assam Pradesh Congress Committee president Ripun Bora, the other by Congress Legislature Party leader Debabrata Saikiaand the final one by Nagaon MP Pradyut Bordoloi — have been fighting it out among themselves, making things easier for the BJP in the state.
Congress insiders said Assam PCC has pinned high hopes on former Union minister and Rahul Gandhi-loyalist Jitendra Singh at a time when the Congress faces dual challenges of resolving the internal conflicts and winning the 2021 assembly election. Even though the former Uttarakhand chief minister has tried to strengthen the party with multiple tours in various districts to speak to grassroot-level workers, sources in Assam Congress said he paid little heed to bridging the gaps that had evolved owing to fights between the three factions.
Talking to TOI, Ripun Bora, however, said the party is enthusiastic at the appointment of Singh as the in-charge of Congress in Assam as he will be able to devote himself fully to party activities now. “Our party high command has taken a wise decision by appointing Jitendra Singh as the party in-charge for Assam which is heading towards elections early next year. He is a young, hardworking and dynamic leader and since there are no elections due in his home state of Rajasthananytime soon, we are hopeful that he will be able to give his full efforts to strengthen and activate party activities ahead of next year’s polls here,” Bora added.
Bora, however, refused to comment on the alleged failure of Harish Rawat to maintain unity among senior leaders of the party. Congratulating the appointment of Jitendra Singh as the general secretary of AICC and in-charge of Assam PCC, Bora tweeted, “We are looking forward to work together to strengthen @INCAssam in upcoming days.”
Insiders in Assam Congress said Congress “disintegrated” in Assam at a time when there was a need to come out strong and united. They felt factions led by senior Congress leaders failed to come close to each other, primarily due to lack of interventions from leaders who were given the responsibility to look after Congress activities in Assam. “Delay in decision making and lack of unification drives are two important issues that have to be addressed by the new party in-charge. It’s a crucial time for the Assam Congress, as the BJP is all out to regain power again,” a senior Congress leader said.
Debabrata Saikia said party workers are hopeful that Rajasthan’s win will be replicated in Assam with the help of Jitendra Singh. “Congress gave a tough fight to win the Rajasthan assembly elections. We are hopeful that Jitendra Singh, who is from Rajasthan, will energize the party in the state and take us all together. We are hopeful that Singh will play a key role in forging an alliance with the anti-CAA and anti-BJP parties,” Saikia added.
In the major reshuffle made by the Congress high-command on Friday, former chief minister Tarun Gogoi was appointed as a Congress Working Committee (CWC) member, whereas All India Mahila Congress president and former Lok Sabha MP from Silchar Sushmita Dev figures among the special invitees to the CWC.