In a setback for the Congress party just a day before Assam goes to the polls, the party’s candidate for Udalguri (ST) constituency, Suren Daimari, on Wednesday announced his resignation from the party. Daimari cited a complete lack of organizational support and communication from state leadership as the reason for his exit.
Daimari said the party abandoned him immediately after submitting his candidacy last month, and complained that he received no guidance or financial support for his campaign from the party leadership.
“They made me the candidate, but throughout the election campaign, the leadership did not maintain even basic communication,” Daimari said, adding that he tried to contact senior leaders but did not receive a response.
“There was no coordination, support or guidance,” he said.
Daimary said he had informed his decision to withdraw from the elections to the Election Commission of India. But election officials said it was too late to retreat from the electoral fray since the deadline for withdrawing nomination papers expired on March 26.
But the Congress said that Daimari had made a statement to the media but had not sent his resignation to the party. “We are not aware of the matter as he has not formally tendered resignation before the party. However, we will approach him,” Assam Congress spokesperson Peddabrata Bora said.
Polling to elect the 126-member Assam Parliament is scheduled to be held on Thursday with the participation of 722 candidates.
Daimary was one of the four candidates for the Udalguri seat. The other three are Dipen Boro of the United People’s Liberation Party, Rehun Daimary of the Bodoland People’s Front, and Yuniki Basumatari of the Voters International Party.
