Denied ticket, Assam Cong VP quits party

Guwahati: Just a day ahead of the United Opposition Forum Assam publishing a “chargesheet” against the BJP-led govt, Congress on Tuesday faced yet another blow in Assam.
Assam PCC vice-president and former MP Dwijen Sarma resigned from the party, accusing AICC general secretary in-charge of Assam Jitendra Singh and state PCC president Bhupen Borah of prioritising only the wealthy ticket aspirants.
Sarma was a ticket aspirant from Gauhati Lok Sabha seat but was denied. Congress has fielded state Mahila Congress chief Mira Barthakur from the seat.
Sources said Sarma may join BJP soon though the senior leader said he has no plans to join other political parties.
“Bhupen Borah asks ticket aspirants how much money they have. He is not concerned about the chance of success of the candidate or their grassroots connections,” said Sarma. He added that Jitendra Singh is hand-in-glove with Bhupen Borah.
“In the last assembly election, too, Jitendra Singh was involved in corrupt practices. I was targeted by Singh for lodging a complaint against him with Rahul Gandhi,” Sarma said.
He lashed out at the Congress leadership in Assam, calling it family-centric. “When people like Jitendra Singh come with business mentality to Assam, I cannot be with Congress,” Sarma said.