Turbulence In BJP: ‘All Agreed To Stay Loyal,’ Says Jayanta Mallabaruah; Nihar Signals Defiance

The announcement of Bharatiya Janata Party’s list of candidates for the upcoming assembly polls saw mixed reactions, including surprise and defiance. While many leaders of the party, including former MLAs and grassroots workers, blamed the party’s choice of candidates for the upcoming election, the party has launched a full-fledged damage control. Among those who quit the party is Dholai MLA Nihar Ranjan Das.

The political situation in Dholai has taken a sharp turn as MLA Nihar Ranjan Das remained firm on contesting as an independent candidate, even as Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah visited him on Saturday (March 21) to resolve internal differences within the Bharatiya Janata Party ahead of the Assembly elections.

Jayanta Mallabaruah, the Guardian Minister of Cachar, visited Silchar and met party MLAs, including Nihar Ranjan Das from Dholai, Dipayan Chakraborty from Silchar and Mihir Kanti Shome from Udharbond. His visit came after these three sitting MLAs in Barak Valley were snubbed off tickets, leading to discontent within the party ranks.

Sharing his views on X, Jayanta Mallabaruah said that members of the Bharatiya Janata Party stand united as one family despite disagreements over candidature. Speaking to the media in Silchar, he stated that he visited the three MLAs on the Chief Minister’s direction to ensure party unity. He said all three leaders agreed to remain loyal to the party and work for its success, adding that the party prioritises development and the protection of all communities, including Khilonjiya, Assamese and Bengalis.

However, Nihar Ranjan Das maintained that he would contest the election as an independent candidate. He told the media that both Jayanta Mallabaruah and Minister Kaushik Rai had urged him not to contest independently, but he remained determined to fight and win, after which he plans to rejoin the BJP.

He further said that he was also contacted by BJP national vice president Baijayant Panda and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. While he conveyed the same stand to them, he later sought one day’s time from the Chief Minister to reconsider his decision.

On the denial of his party ticket, Nihar Ranjan Das alleged that it was influenced by MP Parimal Suklabaidya. He questioned the justification given by the Chief Minister regarding Amiya Kanti Das being a long-time RSS worker, stating that he, too, has similar affiliations. He also dismissed the MP’s challenge to provide evidence, saying such matters rarely have direct proof.

The situation reflects a reversal of events from the 2024 bypolls, when Nihar Ranjan Das had received the party ticket and Amiya Kanti Das had briefly rebelled by filing as an independent candidate before withdrawing after party intervention. This time, with the ticket going to Amiya Kanti Das, Nihar Ranjan Das has taken a similar path and is yet to withdraw.

Meanwhile, Jayanta Mallabaruah acknowledged that disagreements are natural in such situations but expressed satisfaction over what he described as a positive response from all three MLAs. However, Nihar Ranjan Das’s statements to the media suggest otherwise. It remains to be seen whether he will reconsider his decision or proceed with contesting as an independent candidate.