All is not well in the Indian National Congress in Assam, especially in the Nagaon district where the party leadership has been alleged of favouritism.

A day after Regional People’s Front (RPF) leader Lachit Bordoloi alleged that “lobby-centric politics have been damaging Congress in Assam”, two senior party leaders- Dr Durlav Chamua and Gueswar Das- have resigned from the party and filed nomination papers as independent candidates.

Both the leaders have alleged the Nagaon district Congress leadership of “favouritism” and said that tickets have been given based on “who is close to the leadership”.

The allegations became evident after the part declared its candidates from the Nowgong and Raha LACs of the district.

It was widely believed that former MLA Dr Durlav Chamua, who had represented and won from the Nowgong LAC in past, would be given the ticket in 2021 as well. But as the party overlooked him and decided to go ahead with Santanu Sarma, it left each and everyone surprised and his supporters agitated. The agitated supporters on Tuesday (March 9) night vandalised the party office situated at Nagaon Municipal Block and set several election banners and posters on fire.

Meanwhile, from Raha (SC) LAC, after being denied a ticket by the party, former MLA and senior Congress leader Guneswar Das filed nomination as an independent candidate and he will take on Congress’ Sashi Kanta Das.

Political pundits believed that as Guneswar Das had a greater hold in the constituency, he should have not been overlooked. Das also found support from Deep Das- another senior Congress leader of the constituency.

“As Dr Chamua and Guneswar Das have filed nomination papers as independent candidates, it is going to harm the Congress and benefit BJP as the Congress votes certain get spit due to this,” said a Congress worker seeking anonymity.