Parimal Suklabaidya Comments on Amiyakanti Das: Compares His Return to BJP with Child Pacified by Lollipop

If a child at home is displeased for any reason, the guardian tries to pacify them—perhaps with a lollipop. In the case of Amiya Kanti Das, Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah has played the role of this guardian criticised Silchar MP Parimal Suklabaidya while commenting on Amiya Kanti’s withdrawal of his nomination. The “cold war” between two tall leaders of the Bharatiya Janta Party stems from denial of party ticket to BJP’s district Vice-President Amiya Kanti Das while choosing Nihar Ranjan Das as the candidate for the by-polls that is slated to be held on November 13.

The by-election in Dholai has highlighted the simmering rivalry between two senior BJP leaders in Cachar: MP Parimal Suklabaidya and BJP district vice-president Amiya Kanti Das. Amiya Kanti, disappointed after not receiving the ticket, filed his candidacy as an independent in protest against Suklabaidya but later withdrew it after intervention from Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and guardian minister Jayanta Malla Baruah, who persuaded him to return to the party.

Commenting on this yesterday at his residence, MP Parimal Suklabaidya implied that his “cold war” with Amiya Kanti is still ongoing. Addressing the matter, he said, “Jayanta Malla Baruah is our Guardian Minister and a guardian is responsible for consoling a crying child irrespective of whether they are right or wrong. Sometimes with a lollipop, the guardian says take this lollipop and stop crying. I thank Jayanta Malla Baruah for this pacifying”.

In response to Amiya Kanti’s allegation that Suklabaidya had a hand in denying him the ticket, the MP retorted that he did not specifically recommend Amiya Kanti’s name to BJP leadership, questioning if he was obliged to do so. He added, “Is it written in the BJP constitution that only his name should be recommended in Dholai? I submitted the names suggested by voters and workers alike; no one instructed me to propose Amiya Kanti Das’s name.”

In a separate public meeting before Amiya Kanti withdrew his nomination campaigning for Nihar Ranjan Das, Parimal Suklabaidya also said, even if Amiya Kanti contested elections as an independent candidate, he won’t be able to secure 500 votes.

Timeline of events:
October 15- Announcement of Dholai By-polls, along with 5 other constituencies of Assam.
October 19(Late Afternoon)- Nihar Ranjan Das announced BJP’s candidate for Dholai.
October 19 (Night)- Amiya Kanti Das quits BJP.
October 24- Amiya Kanti Das files Independent Candidate Nomination.
October 24- Nihar Ranjan Das files Nomination from BJP.
October 28- CM urges Amiya Kanti Das to return back to BJP.
October 29- Amiya Kanti Das rejoins BJP and withdraws Nomination.