Hailakandi (Assam), 16 January (HS): Youth Congress president Zuber Anam on Friday alleged that a Congress MLA offered him a sum ranging between ₹3 crore and ₹5 crore to refrain from contesting the upcoming Assembly elections. He made the explosive allegation publicly during a padyatra held at Lala Bypass, triggering a fresh controversy within the Congress over ticket distribution.

Anam said he is an aspirant for the party ticket from the Algapur–Katlicherra Assembly constituency and claimed that the offer was made precisely to force him out of the electoral race. He further alleged that the same Congress MLA had also offered crores of rupees to another ticket aspirant, an engineer by profession, asking him not to contest the election.

These allegations have added weight to earlier claims made by Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, who had accused the Congress of large-scale monetary transactions during ticket distribution in minority-dominated constituencies. The fact that the accusations have come from within the party has put the Congress leadership in an uncomfortable position.

The Congress party, however, has not issued any official response to the allegations so far.----------

Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash