Dutta faces 'demoralizing' slur, infighting sees no end

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, June 26: The Assembly election is less than a year away, but the Congress in the State is deeply embroiled in infighting. A section of leaders in the party even want to 'taint' Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Anjan Dutta as a 'demoralising element' in the party.  

After the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) issuing a show-cause notice to five party leaders - Hiranya Bora, Ra Khan, Diganta Kalita, Adil Shah and Bolin Kuli - for anti-party activities, two of them - Hiranya Bora and Bolin Kuli - seem to be more 'aggressive'. They are making some comments that are bound to damage the party's prospects. They were asked to reply the show-cause notice by June 28.

APCC president Anjan Dutta today said: "They have to reply the show-cause notice. We have kept the All India Congress Committee (AICC) informed of the matter. If they don't reply, the matter will be reported to the AICC. We can't tolerate violation of party discipline by anyone," he said.

APCC president Anjan Dutta, on the other hand, seems to be on the back foot after making some 'loose comments' before the media. Dutta was on record saying before the media recently that even of the Congress fought the elections now without any campaign, it would win 21 seats. The statement from Dutta is not music for a section of party leaders, especially those who are in the camp against Dutta. "This is accepting defeat before the battle. How can such a general, who seems to be fighting a losing battle, make the party winner? This is highly demoralizing." his rivals ask him.

Sticking to his guns, Dutta, on the other hand, said: "What I said is: we can win 21 seats without any campaign, and that doesn't mean that we will win only 21 seats."

When asked on Dutta's comment of 21, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said: "I don't want to be an astrologer."