Assam: Congress in NE split over AICC president pick

GUWAHATI: The state unit of Congress is building consensus to authorise Sonia Gandhi to direct the party to vote for someone of her choice in the AICC presidential election, even as the North East Congress Coordination Committee (NECCC) is batting for a democratic election to pick the next chief of the grand old party.
State Congress president Bhupen Borah on Wednesday said, “Assam Congress doesn’t want a division of votes. It wants the next AICC president to be elected uncontested. Most of the party leaders here have said we should authorise Sonia Gandhiji to pick the next AICC chief. Her decision should be considered final anyway.”
He added, “We don’t want an election for the AICC president’s post. But even if an election is held, we want to go by Soniaji’s direction as far as choosing the new president is concerned.”
However, NECCC chairperson Nabam Tuki said leaders willing to contest for the top post must not be deprived of participation in the democratic election announced by the party. “The true spirit of democracy must be upheld. Those interested should file their nominations for the top post,” he added.
Around 280 voters from Assam, including 274 Assam PCC delegates and eight per cent Congress MLAs from the state, are eligible to vote in the election scheduled to be held on October 17. Nomination papers can be filed from September 24 to 30.
Amid the Bharat Jodo Yatra led by Rahul Gandhi, five Lok Sabha MPs of the party, including Pradyut Bardoloi and Abdul Khaleque from Assam recently wrote to Madhusudan Mistry, chairman of the Congress Central Election Authority, expressing “concerns” about transparency and fairness in the selection process for the party president’s post. Congress sources said a dozen PCCs are going to support Rahul for the top post and the Assam PCC will also join the list, if Sonia backs her son.