Congress Candidate Suren Daimari Resigns from Party, Surrenders Candidature in Assam
In a dramatic turn of events just one day before polling in Assam, Congress candidate for the Udalguri Assembly seat, Suren Daimari, announced on Wednesday that he has quit the party and "surrendered" his candidature. The announcement has created significant political ripples in the crucial election state.
Congress Response and Election Commission Clarification
However, the Congress party has countered Daimari's claims, stating that he has not yet formally submitted his resignation letter to the party. Congress Spokesperson Bedabrata Bora told PTI that while Daimari announced his decision to the media, the official resignation process remains incomplete.
A senior election commission official provided crucial clarification regarding the technical implications of Daimari's announcement. The official confirmed that Daimari's name will remain on the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and voters can still cast their ballots for him. This is because the deadline for withdrawing nominations has long passed, making any withdrawal at this stage impossible.
"In fact, the polling parties have left for their polling stations. So, there is no question of withdrawing one's name now from the contest," the senior poll panel official emphasized.
Daimari's Allegations Against Congress
Earlier in the day, Daimari made explosive allegations against his former party during interactions with reporters. "There is no benefit of being in the Congress. It has betrayed me," he stated bluntly.
The candidate leveled serious accusations of discrimination, claiming: "The Congress only works for the Miyas, but they do nothing for the Scheduled Tribes like me." He further elaborated on his grievances regarding lack of campaign support after being nominated from the Udalguri seat.
"I called up the party leadership repeatedly, but they did not even receive my call. I am hurt because they did not help me at all. The district Congress committee did not help me," Daimari revealed.
He explained that after waiting for an extended period for a response that never came, he made the difficult decision to leave the party. When questioned about his timing—resigning just one day before polling—Daimari responded: "I have not betrayed the party, the party has betrayed me."
Election Context and Udalguri Seat Dynamics
The political drama unfolds against the backdrop of crucial Assam Assembly elections. Polling for the 126-member Assam Assembly is scheduled for April 9, with results to be declared on May 4. Despite Daimari's announcement, he remains technically in the contest for the Udalguri Assembly seat.
Four candidates are competing for the Udalguri seat:
- Suren Daimari (Congress, though he has announced resignation)
- Rihon Daimari from BJP ally BPF
- Dipen Boro from UPPL
- Unike Basumatary from Voters Party International
The situation presents voters with an unusual scenario where a candidate has publicly disavowed his party affiliation but remains on the ballot. Election officials have confirmed that all procedural deadlines have passed, meaning Daimari's candidature status cannot be altered before polling begins.
This development adds another layer of complexity to what was already a closely watched election in Assam, with multiple political parties vying for dominance in the northeastern state. The Congress party now faces the challenge of managing internal dissent while maintaining its electoral prospects in the region.
