By Muslim Mirror Staff
A political storm has erupted in Assam following the resignation of senior BJP leader Rajan Gohain from his position as chairman of the Assam Food and Civil Supplies Corporation. Gohain’s resignation, which comes in protest against the delimitation of the Nagaon Lok Sabha constituency, has laid bare deep-seated tensions within the BJP ranks and exposed questions over the motives behind the reconfiguration.
The Nagaon constituency, which Gohain represented for four terms, has been at the centre of controversy due to its altered composition following the delimitation process. Gohain’s discontent centres around the reassignment of assembly seats and its impact on the constituency’s demographic dynamics. Under the restructured setup, four assembly seats previously part of Nagaon have been incorporated into the Kaziranga Lok Sabha constituency, resulting in a shift of the constituency’s demographic balance.
Addressing the issue, Gohain raised concerns about the constituency turning into a “minority-majority” seat, indicating that the changes would potentially disadvantage the BJP in future elections.
In an interaction with The Print, Gohain criticized Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, likening him to the “All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF)” – a move indicative of his dissatisfaction with the alleged favoritism towards minority leaders.
“I have expressed my dissatisfaction over the Nagaon constituency several times. Sarma says said that he would preserve the culture of the Assamese community and Hindutva, but it does not show in action. Only stating that we (BJP) do not need the votes of ‘miya’ [Muslim] community is not enough,” he alleged.
Gohain’s resignation letter also shed light on his efforts to address the matter within the party hierarchy. He revealed that he had communicated his concerns to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who had requested him to submit his recommendations in writing.
However, Gohain expressed disappointment that his efforts did not yield any positive outcomes, leading him to feel betrayed and disregarded by his own party leaders.
The incident has exposed internal fractures within the Assam BJP cadre, raising questions about the unity of the party’s alliance with the Assam Gana Parishad (AGP) and the United People’s Party of Liberals (UPPL).
Observers suggest that Gohain’s public outcry reflects broader discontent within the party’s ranks over the handling of the delimitation issue and the perceived neglect of senior party members’ concerns.
The Election Commission’s final order on the delimitation of parliamentary and assembly seats in Assam, which came into effect recently, has added to the complexity of the situation.