ASDC splits in Assam

By Our Special Correspondent

GUWAHATI, JULY 26.The Autonomous State Demand Committee, the ruling party in Karbi Anglong and North Cachar Hills districts of Assam and has one M.P., split on Tuesday.

The followers of Dr. Jayanta Rongpi, M.P., adopted a no- confidence motion in Karbi Anglong council against Mr. Jotson Bey, Chief Executive Member. Mr. Babu Rongpi, Council chairman, was prevented from presiding. The deputy chairman, Mr. Deniel Terang, a Rongpi loyalist, conducted the business. Later, Mr. Terang and his supporters walked out.

The crisis has been brewing for some time. Most ASDC leaders are members of the CPI-ML (Vinod Mishra group). A few months ago, the ASDC decided to contest General election in the name of the CPI- ML and that the ASDC would contest the District Council poll. However, it did not go down well with the ASDC members, who did not belong to the CPI-ML.

The CPI-ML Karbi Anglong Party Committee is not affiliated to the Assam State Committee, but to the Central Committee.

Last month, Mr. Holiram Terang, leader of the five- member ASDC group in the Assembly, raised the banner of revolt, accusing Dr. Rongpi of corruption.

On July 21, Mr. Terang and his supporters requested that the Standing Committee meeting at Diphu that day be put off. When the Rongi group refused, they walked out and boycotted the Central Committee meeting held later. The meeting asked Dr. Rongpi and Mr. Terang to resign as president and general secretary, and decided to replace them by Mr. Chandra Kanta Terang and Mr Hem Singh Tisso.

Similarly, Mr. Jotson Bey was asked to resign as CEM and Mr. Babu Rongpi as chairman of the Karbi Anglong district council. As they refused to step down, they were ``removed'' yesterday.

In the 30-member council, the Rongpi group has the majority. Only two of the five ASDC MLAs are loyal to Dr. Rongpi.

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Section  : Other States
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