Assam Congress MLA Sashi Kanta Das who extended support to BJP suspended

A statement by the Assam Congress said Raha MLA Sashi Kanta Das has been suspended for repeatedly violating party discipline and indulging in anti-party activities.

Updated on: Jan 1, 2022, 09:46:54 IST

By Utpal Parashar

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GUWAHATI: The Congress on Friday suspended one of its legislators in Assam for offering support to the state’s Bharatiya Janata Party-led government.

Assam Congress MLA Sashi Kanta Das extended support to Assam’s BJP government led by chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma (Twiter/@Pijush_hazarika)

Assm unit chief Bhupen Kumar Borah suspended Raha MLA Sashi Kanta Das from the party “pending disciplinary proceeding with immediate effect for repeatedly violating party discipline and indulging in anti-party activities”, said an order issued by general secretary Bobbeeta Sharma.

On December 20, Sashi Kanta Das shocked his party colleagues by announcing his support to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government headed by Himanta Biswa Sarma. The MLA made the disclosure just ahead of the winter session of the assembly.

“Within a short span, CM Sarma has been able to bring various communities in the state together and also give rapid boost to development. I talked with him about development issues in Raha and he assured all help. Therefore, I’ve decided to support the government,” Das told journalists on December 20.

“A decision on switching of parties and joining the BJP hasn’t been taken at this point. For now I’ve decided to support the government for the sake of development of my constituency,” he had added.

Welcoming the decision, Sarma said that there are many more legislators in the opposition camp who are willing to join the ruling party due to the work carried out by the state government.

Earlier this year, Congress MLAs Rupjyoti Kurmi from Mariani and Sushanta Borgohain from Thowra resigned from their seats and joined the BJP.

An All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) MLA, Phanidhar Talukdar from Bhabanipur, had also quit his party and joined the ruling party. All three MLAs won bypolls in November and became BJP MLAs.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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