Guwahati, 18 May (HS): The Congress party in Assam, which suffered a major setback in the Assembly elections, is now grappling with an internal leadership tussle over the appointment of the Leader of Opposition in the Assembly. Senior Congress MLA Wajed Ali Choudhury has openly staked claim to the post, asserting that he deserves the position on the basis of seniority and legislative experience.

“I am an experienced Congress legislator. Therefore, I should become the Leader of Opposition,” said Wajed Ali Choudhury. He also remarked that winning elections as a Muslim MLA from Congress “cannot be considered a crime,” while reacting to criticism that the party has turned into a Muslim-centric organisation.

Although the Congress secured 19 seats in the 126-member Assam Assembly, the party is yet to hold an official meeting of its newly elected legislators. However, intense discussions are underway within the party regarding who will lead the Congress Legislature Party inside the House.

Of the 19 Congress MLAs elected, 18 belong to Muslim communities, with Jayaprakash Das being the lone Hindu legislator besides the minority representatives. The ruling side has already begun targeting the Congress, alleging that the party has transformed into a Muslim-dominated political platform.

Under the amended Assembly rules, any opposition party with at least 10% representation in the House is eligible for formal recognition of the Leader of Opposition. With 19 MLAs, Congress qualifies for the post, which carries cabinet rank and several official privileges.

Despite this, the party remains divided over the choice of leader. Five-time MLA Wajed Ali Choudhury initially emerged as a strong contender due to his seniority. However, his strained relationship with senior Congress leader Rakibul Hussain has reportedly become a major obstacle.

Four-time MLA Rekibuddin Ahmed is also facing resistance from within the party. Meanwhile, former state Congress president Debabrata Saikia is said to favour Zakir Hussain Sikdar, a three-time MLA, for the post.

Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi is reportedly inclined towards Nurul Huda, while Rakibul Hussain is backing first-time MLA Jayaprakash Das, considered one of his close associates.

The Congress high command has reportedly left the final decision to Gaurav Gogoi, who is now under pressure to strike a balance among competing factions. Party insiders say selecting Jayaprakash Das could invite criticism, while overlooking him may create fresh challenges within the organisation.

As internal lobbying intensifies, the process of selecting the Leader of Opposition continues to remain unresolved, though Jayaprakash Das and Nurul Huda are currently seen as frontrunners in the race.-----------

Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash