Gaurav Gogoi brings back old guard to lead Congress in Barak Valley districts

A CORRESPONDENT

SILCHAR: Appointment of the presidents in the three Barak Valley districts virtually signalled the return of the old faces of the Congress. Sajal Acharjee, who was a prominent youth leader during Late Sontosh Mohan Dev’s regime and subsequently sidelined by the latter’s daughter Susmita Dev, was appointed the district president of Cachar. In Hailakandi, the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) picked Ishaque Ali Barbhuiya, former Inspector of Schools, known for his proximity to former heavyweight Congress leader Gautam Roy. However, though Roy later joined the BJP, Barbhuiya continued to serve the Congress in spite of a major crisis. In the last Panchayat election, Barbhuiya was the president in chargeof the Hailakandi Congress, and the party performed well. Barbhuiya was known to be in close touch with former MLA Rahul Roy, who was all set to make a comeback in Congress.

In Sribhumi, Tapas Purkayastha was made the new district president. Though Purkayastha was known as a close aide of MLA Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha, he did not leave the party even when the latter switched over his allegiance to the BJP. The name of Tapas Purkayastha, a former teacher, for the post of district president was reportedly nominated by Hafiz Rashid Ahmed Choudhury, who unsuccessfully contested the last Lok Sabha election in Karimganj. Tapas Purkayastha worked tirelessly for the party candidate even though he was known to be a close aide of Kamalakhya.

Sajal Acharjee, Tapas Purkayastha, and Ishaque Ali said that their primary task would be convincing the leaders and workers who were once in the forefront but were later sidelined. All three district presidents said that under the leadership of Gaurav Gogoi, they would enthusiastically work to rejuvenate the party.

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