As many as 34 Congress leaders and workers from Assam’s Barak Valley have resigned from the primary membership of the party to switch over to the All India Trinamool Congress.
The development comes a day after former All India Mahila Congress Chief and ex-Silchar MP Sushmita Dev joined the TMC in Kolkata.
Among those who quit the Congress party include Rajesh Deb, general secretary (organisation) of the Silchar DCC, Rahul Alam Laskar, general secretary (admin) Silchar DCC, Papan Deb, general secretary Silchar DCC, Sajal Banik, president Silchar Town Congress committee, Anupam Paul, president INTUC Cachar, Shyam Sundar Kalwar and others.
The leaders held a meeting at a separate venue to speak their mind on the developments.
“We have seen how the BJP and even the Congress have put hurdles in the way of development of Barak Valley which is unfortunate. But, we have been inspired by the work done by the AITC chairperson and Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee.
“Our leader Sushmita Dev has always worked for the people, especially the Bengali speaking population and we too feel motivated to work for the party at the grassroots amidst challenges. I believe those who have close connections with the former Silchar MP and even with us but somehow associated with the Congress party will eventually join the AITC and work with us,” Deb added.
He said that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee is likely to visit Silchar within the next two months.
“Our leader Sushmita Dev has joined the party and under her guidance, we have already started to work as a cohesive unit for the AITC,” Deb added.