INDI Witnesses Infighting As Congress, CPIM Lock Horns Over Barpeta Lok Sabha Constituency

Guwahati: With Lok Sabha Elections 2024 drawing closer, not all seems to be well between CPIM and Congress – two key players within INDI bloc – as talks between two parties are believed to have yielded no substantial results amid ir ongoing standoff in Barpeta.

Earlier this year, when crucial meetings for seat-sharing were held among 16 political parties from Assam that are part of United Opposition Forum, CPIM was asked to contest from Barpeta, following which party reportedly did all groundwork with Congress and ors arguing that only if Manoranjan Talukdar – lone sitting MLA of CPIM in Assam – contests from seat, would y leave it to left. situation, however, took a turn when Congress – in its list of candidates for elections – announced Deep Bayan as its candidate from Barpeta, even as Talukdar h started his poll campaign.

In a strong message to Congress, Talukdar has said that if party was serious about opposition unity, it's time for m to prove it. “We were not willing to contest. It was Congress and or parties who asked us to contest. Now that we have decided in favour and entered field, re is no question of going on backfoot. We h several rounds of meeting. If y want this, what was point of those meetings?” Talukdar quipped. 

Meanwhile, sources close to top leership in Assam Congress told Republic that talks are on within party with regard to Barpeta Lok Sabha constituency. “We haven't finalised anything yet with respect to withdrawal of our candidate in Barpeta. party leership, however, will soon take a call in this regard", source furr revealed.

Noteworthily, NDA has fielded Phanibhusan Choudhury of Asom Gana Parish from Barpeta. Choudhury is a veteran in state politics and is currently longest- incumbent legislator from Asom Gana Parish in State Assembly for last four deces.