Following Amiya Kanti, 500 BJP Workers Exit Party in Protest, Nihar Ranjan Das Branded as MP’s Puppet

The selection of Nihar Ranjan Das as the BJP candidate for the upcoming Dholai by-election has sparked an internal conflict, leading to the resignation of senior party leader Amiya Kanti Das, who also served as the Vice President of the BJP Cachar district unit. Following his resignation, which occurred recently, around 500 BJP members from Dholai followed suit, leaving the party in a significant show of dissent. The mass resignations were formalised during a meeting held at New Market in Dholai, where Amiya Kanti Das addressed the gathering and outlined his grievances.

Dholai is set to hold its by-election on 13 November, and the BJP’s decision to nominate Nihar Ranjan Das as its candidate has proven contentious. Amiya Kanti Das, who was considered a strong contender for the party ticket, resigned in protest against the selection of Nihar Ranjan Das, whom he accused of being an “outsider” and a “puppet” of Silchar’s MP, Parimal Suklabaidya. He claimed that the nomination was influenced by Suklabaidya, who favoured a candidate under his control rather than a local representative.

During the meeting in Dholai, Das questioned the legitimacy of Nihar Ranjan Das’s candidacy, in the meeting it was suggested that his parents are residing in Bangladesh, thereby casting doubt on his background. He further stated that Nihar Ranjan Das resides in Silchar and lacks any direct connection with Dholai, arguing that this disconnection would hinder his ability to address the constituency’s needs effectively. In contrast, Das emphasised his own long-standing association with the area, asserting that he was better positioned to understand and respond to local issues.

Amiya Kanti Das’s resignation has intensified the internal rift within the Dholai BJP unit, with many party workers feeling that the party leadership is sidelining loyal members in favour of external influences. The protestors who resigned alongside Das expressed disillusionment with what they perceived as unfair practices in the selection process, criticising the party’s apparent disregard for grassroots leaders. Many attendees at the meeting voiced their support for Das and hinted at backing him as an independent candidate in the by-election.

The dissenters did not stop at merely resigning from the party. Some of them pledged to rally behind Amiya Kanti Das, supporting him to run as an independent candidate against Nihar Ranjan Das. This stance has set the stage for a potential split in the BJP vote bank, which could affect the party’s prospects in the forthcoming by-election. Das confirmed his intention to contest the election as an independent, challenging the official BJP candidate.

Further escalating the controversy, Das implied that Nihar Ranjan Das was merely a puppet of MP Parimal Suklabaidya, alleging that the MP had chosen him because he could control him and make him “dance” to his tune, prioritising his own interests over the community’s welfare.

As the by-election date approaches, the rift within the party has added an unexpected twist to the electoral contest in Dholai, raising questions about the BJP’s internal cohesion and its ability to present a united front amid mounting dissent.