Congress expels former Assam minister Nilamani for 'anti-party' activities

GUWAHATI: The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) on Wednesday expelled senior party leader Nilamani Sen Deka for “anti-party” activities.
Sen Deka was an executive member of the PCC. He was a close confidant of former chief minister Tarun Gogoi and a cabinet minister during his tenure as CM. The former minister was vocal against the Congress leadership of late, criticising them for allegedly failing to understand the expectations and aspirations of the people.
“As directed by Hon’ble President Assam PCC, Shri Bhupen Kumar Borah, Shri Nilamani Sen Deka, Executive Member, Assam PCC has been expelled for repeatedly violating the party discipline with immediate effect,” read an order issued by APCC general secretary (administration), Apurba Kumar Bhattacharjee.
The order said Sen Deka was asked many times in the past not to make “harmful statements” against the party, but added that in spite of his written assurance, the former minister was doing just that.
Sen Deka trained guns at state PCC president Bhupen Borah soon after the expulsion order, alleging that he was not given a chance to speak in his defence. He, however, has not revealed any plan to join another party. “It is unjust to expel me from the party without a showcause notice. The Assam Congress leadership has gone mad. Can someone be expelled even before suspension?” he asked.
Sen Deka took a dig at the state Congress leadership on Tuesday when AICC general secretary in-charge of Assam, Jitendra Singh, landed in Guwahati to attend a CLP meeting. He said discussions are not enough to rescue Congress but the party needs to work like a farmer in the field to boost the morale of its grassroots workers.
“Press conferences and activism on Facebook are not enough. If we cannot attack the government for its policies, Congress will never return to power,” he had said.
Sen Deka was expelled from the party amid reports of another dissidence cropping up in the grand old party in Assam. Ten Congress MLAs met at the residence of deputy CLP leader Rakibul Hussain when the Udaipur Chintan Shivir was under way. Many of the legislators expressed dissatisfaction at the working style of state PCC chief Bhupen Borah. Some of them were upset, saying they were not taken into confidence while district Congress presidents were appointed in several districts of Assam recently.