Congress Stages Dramatic Walkout in Assam Assembly Over MLA Defections
The political atmosphere in Assam turned tense on Wednesday as the opposition Congress party staged a dramatic walkout from the state assembly. The walkout came after Congress leaders questioned the impartiality of Speaker Biswajit Daimary, following the entry of two Congress MLAs who had recently defected to Akhil Gogoi's Raijor Dal party.
Defections Spark Political Confrontation
The controversy centers around Congress MLAs Sherman Ali Ahmed and Abdur Rashid Mandal, who entered the legislative house despite having switched allegiance to Raijor Dal within the last three days. This development has created significant political turmoil, particularly as the ongoing budget session represents the final assembly session before the upcoming state elections.
Congress leader Debabrata Saikia spearheaded the protest, demanding immediate disqualification of the two MLAs. Saikia emphasized that the party had repeatedly written to the speaker seeking action against legislators involved in what he termed "anti-party" activities, but claimed no substantive action had been taken despite years of pending notices.
Congress Demands Action Against Multiple MLAs
During the assembly proceedings, Saikia specifically named several Congress legislators he alleged were engaged in activities against party interests. The list included Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha, Basanta Das, Siddeque Ahmed, Sashi Kanta Das, along with the recently defected Mandal and Sherman Ali Ahmed.
"Even after providing comprehensive evidence of their anti-party activities, these MLAs were not disqualified," Saikia stated. "Our formal notices to the speaker have remained pending for months and even years without resolution."
Speaker's Response and Walkout
When Saikia pressed Speaker Biswajit Daimary for an immediate ruling on the disqualification notices during Wednesday's session, Daimary responded that he required additional time to verify the movements and actions of the two defected MLAs. Following the speaker's refusal to provide an immediate ruling, Congress legislators collectively staged their walkout, deliberately skipping the scheduled Question Hour in protest.
Political Context and Broader Implications
The defections to Raijor Dal represent another significant setback for the Congress party in Assam. This development follows the scheduled joining of former Assam Pradesh Congress Committee president Bhupen Kumar Borah to the Bharatiya Janata Party on February 22, indicating a broader pattern of political realignment in the state.
The political significance of these defections is amplified by the constituencies represented by the defecting MLAs. Abdur Rashid Mandal represents Goalpara West, while Sherman Ali Ahmed serves as MLA from Baghbor—a constituency where minority communities play a decisive electoral role. Mandal's move to Raijor Dal was particularly surprising to Congress leadership, as the party has been gaining popularity in minority-dominated areas of lower Assam.
Saikia Responds to Political Speculation
In a related development, Congress leader Debabrata Saikia responded to recent remarks by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who had predicted that Saikia would lose the 2026 assembly elections and subsequently join the BJP following his defeat.
Saikia countered these predictions with a firm statement: "I may potentially lose the election, but the BJP has not accomplished any work of such significance that would compel me to join their ranks." This exchange highlights the increasingly confrontational political discourse in Assam as election season approaches.
Background on Defecting MLAs
Sherman Ali Ahmed had previously been suspended by the Congress party, making his defection somewhat anticipated within political circles. However, Abdur Rashid Mandal's move to Raijor Dal caught Congress leadership off guard, particularly given the timing just before crucial elections.
The political maneuvering occurs against the backdrop of Raijor Dal's growing influence in minority areas of Assam, potentially reshaping electoral dynamics in several key constituencies. As the budget session continues, political observers anticipate further developments in this ongoing confrontation between the Congress opposition and the ruling establishment.
