Five seats are going to by polls on October 30. Former chief Sarbananda Sonowal has resigned as MLA from Majuli after being elected to Upper Assam. With this total vacant seats in Assam is six.

Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Bhupen kumar Borah said that Congress has discussed by- elections. “Congress will contest four seats and will leave one seat each for AJP and Raijor Dal.”

He added, “We have sent the proposal to the AICC and AICC will announce its decision on Saturday.”

In assembly polls in March-April this year Congress has cobbled up 10 parties, Grand alliance. However post-election Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) has decided to distance itself from Congress and Congress has snapped ties with All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF).

By-polls to Gossaigaon, Tamulpur, Bhapanipur, Mariani and Thowra will be held on October 30. AJP and Raijor Dal have been making repeated overtures to Congress to jointly fight bye polls.

Borah said, “We have appealed to Left parties including CPI, CPI(M) to support us in the by-polls.”

In the assembly polls the left parties were part of the Grand alliance.

Show cause

Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) issued show cause notice to MLA, Sherman Ali Ahmed .

The notice stated,” It has been observed by AICC and APCC that despite holding a responsible position as an MLA of the Congress Party you have time and again given statements in media and in public forums against party policies and matters with communal overtones having great propensity to destroy the social harmony of our state. As a lawmaker your communally provocative comments in media gnawing at old wounds of the past incidents of Assam agitation when people of Assam across communities had suffered is totally insensitive and uncalled for. APCC views your comments as politically motivated with intent to cause damage to the Congress party just prior to the By-Elections”.

The notice added, “Earlier too twice you had given communally provocative statements and gone against party discipline. Despite warnings from party leadership you have again made communally provocative comments on Assam agitation incidents on 29th September 2021 and 30th September 2021 in front of media that has gone viral in social media platforms as well which is not acceptable to the Congress party and APCC views that such comments will further give fuel to the BJP’s divisive communal agenda in Assam. Allegations are also rife within party and even outside that you are acting as an agent of the BJP while being a part of the Congress party and that due to your closeness to CM Himanta Biswa Sarma you are being sponsored to make such comments to cause damage to the Congress specially during election time. President, APCC seeks explanation from you for your actions and also why disciplinary action should not be taken against you for giving communally provocative statements with intent to disturb social harmony prior to By-Elections”.

Notice added, “The President therefore issues you a show cause notice for breach of party discipline for deliberately acting in a way calculated to lower the prestige of the Congress. You are thereby instructed to send your response within three days of receiving this letter to the APCC President”.

Post eviction drive in Gorukhuti last week, Ahmed allegedly disrespected the martyrs of Assam agitation. He termed those eight persons killed in 1983 in Gorukhuti as killers.