Amiya Kanti Das' Resignation Over Ticket Denial Exposes Infighting Within BJP

In a surprising development following the announcement of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) candidate for the Dholai constituency by-election, Amiya Kanti Das, the vice president of the BJP’s Cachar district unit, has resigned from the party. Das made his decision public by posting his resignation letter on Facebook, expressing his disappointment and frustration over the candidate selection process. This has brought to light his rift with MP Parimal Suklabaidya and Suklabaidya’s alleged arrogant dominance in party matters.

Das, who was an aspirant for the party’s ticket from the Dholai constituency, cited personal interests within the party leadership as the reason behind his resignation. In his letter addressed to the Cachar district BJP president, he conveyed his decision to step down from both his position as vice president and the primary membership of the party.

“No Ideals, Only Personal Interests”

In a scathing Facebook post, Das accused the BJP of straying from its core ideals and prioritizing personal interests. He claimed that the Dholai ticket was awarded according to the whims of a specific leader, rather than based on the aspirations of the nearly two lakh voters of the constituency.

“The party ticket was given according to the whims of a particular individual this time. I didn’t get the ticket because I couldn’t bow down to that person,” Das wrote. He further criticized the party for “importing” a candidate from outside the constituency, which he said was a direct insult to the BJP workers and voters of Dholai.

Call for Protest

Invoking the words of Jana Sangh founder Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee—”Protest, Resist, and if necessary, Retaliate”—Das called on party workers and patriots to join him in a protest against the party’s current leadership. He stressed that his protest was not aimed at securing an elected position but rather focused on the larger goal of building a “supremely glorious nation.”

“I humbly appeal to all patriots and the dedicated workers who have sacrificed everything for the party to assist me in this protest. One day, you may face the same situation, so it’s better to protest now,” he urged.

Years of Service Ignored

Das highlighted his decades-long association with the BJP, having joined the party in 1989. Over the years, he has held several important positions, including General Secretary of the GP Committee, District General Secretary (Organization), and District Vice President. He also mentioned the significant role he played in the Assam Pradesh Committee’s membership drives in 2015 and 2019.

Despite his extensive contributions, Das said he was denied a ticket in both the 2016 and 2021 elections. He noted that while he accepted the party’s decisions in the past, the latest denial, which he attributes to Parimal Shuklabaidya’s influence, was the final straw. Shuklabaidya, a prominent BJP leader and current Member of Parliament, allegedly preferred another candidate for the Dholai seat.

“Loyalty to the party doesn’t matter as much as loyalty to an individual. If you want to survive, you must learn to be a sycophant, which isn’t in my character, so I was left out,” Das lamented.

RSS Background and Ideological Stand

Das, a trained volunteer of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), reaffirmed his commitment to the organization’s ideology, stating that he would remain an RSS volunteer for life. He clarified that his resignation was not an abandonment of the BJP’s ideals but a protest against actions that contradicted those ideals.

As the Dholai by-election draws near, Das’s resignation and public criticism of the party leadership have raised questions about internal divisions within the BJP’s Cachar unit. The party is yet to issue an official response to Das’s resignation and the allegations he made.

Conclusion

With the by-election on the horizon, Amiya Kanti Das’s exit from the BJP could have a significant impact on the political landscape of the Dholai constituency. His call for protest and candid remarks about the party’s internal workings are likely to resonate with some sections of the BJP’s base, potentially leading to further discussions about the state of democracy and leadership within the party.