Guwahati: Dissidence within the ruling Congress came to the fore on Saturday with the resignation of former Chief Minister Anwara Taimur and minister Bijit Saikia ahead of the Assam assembly polls.
Taimur, a Congress aspirant from the Dalgaon assembly constituency, resigned from the primary membership of the party after she was denied ticket and joined the minority dominated All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF).
Alleging that "senior" leaders of the Congress have been sidelined in the process of candidate selection, Taimur said on Saturday she will not contest the ensuing assembly poll but "actively" campaign for the AIUDF.
Taimur, an octogenarian, was the Chief Minister of Assam from December 6, 1980 to June 30, 1981 before President's rule was imposed in the state.
Former Industry minister in the erstwhile Hiteswar Saikia-led Congress government, Saikia had resigned after being refused party ticket and joined the Trinamool Congress.
He will be contesting as the Trinamool Congress nominee for the prestigious Tezpur assembly constituency.
Congress party headquarter at Rajiv Bhavan has witnessed protests of disgruntled ticket seekers recently with supporters having demonstrated before AICC General Secretary and state election in-charge Digvijay Singh.
Several other Congress members who had been denied tickets have joined the Trinamool Congress including Debeswar Borah, its state president, but Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said the Trinamool will not be a "factor" in the ensuing polls.
"Those who have joined the Trinamool Congress will come to the Congress fold," he said.
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