KAMAL-akhya Manhandled by BJP workers at Katigorah During Minister Pijush Hazarika’s Visit

A dramatic turn of events unfolded today during the Barak visit of the Water Resources Minister of Assam, Pijush Hazarika. In Katigorah, during the minister’s visit, North Karimganj MLA Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha was manhandled in the presence of Cabinet Minister Pijush Hazarika. Purkayastha who changed sides from the Congress to the BJP earlier this year is trying hard to fit in. BJP workers from Katigorah accused Kamalakhya of being an agent of the Congress and physically assaulted him. The incident led to a scuffle between local BJP workers and supporters of Kamalakhya. He was attacked in the crowd and had to escape in an official vehicle belonging to the Water Resources Department, seeing the situation escalate.

Water Resources Minister Pijush Hazarika arrived in Barak yesterday to inspect the damaged sluice gates. After visiting Karimganj and Hailakandi yesterday, the minister arrived at the Katigorah constituency in Cachar district today. On July 20 he went to the India-Bangladesh border in Cachar to inspect the damaged sluice gates. MLA Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha from North Karimganj also accompanied the minister during this visit. Local BJP workers suddenly started chanting “Kamalakhya go back” and “Kamalakhya murdabad” (down with Kamalakhya) in the presence of Minister Pijush Hazarika. Even the Kalain BJP Mandal President participated in the sloganeering against Dey Purkayastha showing serious discontent among the party members. DC Cachar, Lakhipu MLA Kaushik Rai and other senior party leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party were also present today during the altercation.

They began to physically assault MLA Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha. At one point, a scuffle broke out between local BJP workers and supporters of Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha. Seeing the situation escalating, Kamalakhya had to flee in a vehicle belonging to an official of the Water Resources Department.

Notably, MLA Kamalakhya De Purkayastha of North Karimganj has been actively present in Katigorah, Cachar, for the past few days. According to reports, Kamalakhya aims to be the BJP candidate for Katigorah in the 2026 elections. This news has caused discontent among the local BJP workers in Katigorah, and this anger was expressed in front of Minister Pijush Hazarika yesterday. Thus, the BJP workers from Katigorah physically assaulted MLA Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha in the presence of the minister.

It needs to be mentioned that climactically, on 14 February this year, Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha expressed his love for the Bharatiya Janata Party and switched to the saffron side. Kamalkhya known to be the harshest critic of the BJP and Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sharma has now aligned with the party in power, weakening the Congress’ foothold in Assam. He even participated in the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra along with Rahul Gandhi in Assam and called Sharma the “most corrupt CM of India”.