BJP’s popularity in Assam may have touched the rock bottom because of anti-CAA protests. Still, the party is showing no signs to bring any change in the state.
Although the term of incumbent president Ranjit Kumar Dass has expired on December 16 last year, the saffron party is likely to reappoint Dass in the top position.
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“Ranjit Kumar Dass is likely to be extended for another term as party president and we have gained under his leadership in Assam,” a senior BJP leader, said.
The recent violence in Assam over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the continuing protests over the contentious Act have left the BJP leaders red-faced in the state.
Also read: Assam: AASU burns effigies of Sonowal, Ranjeet Dass
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Party leaders, including chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal, are being targeted in almost all the places and are being greeted with black flags as a mark of protests against the CAA.
The protests over the CAA led to the death of six civilians in Assam in December last year, forcing the Assam government to call in the Army, impose curfew and restrict mobile internet services.
And amidst the large scale protests over the CAA across Assam, speculations were rife that the party top brass might affect a change of guard in the state.
“There is no possibility of any change of guard as of now. Dass’s term is likely to be extended and we are expecting the order in this regard soon,” another senior BJP leader, said.
Also read: Assam: Zubeen Garg lambasts Ranjeet Dass
A BJP legislator from Sarbhog constituency, Dass was elected as Speaker of the Assam Legislative assembly when Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal took charge in June 2016.
Dass resigned from the Speaker’s post in January 2017 and took over the reins of the Assam Pradesh unit of BJP.
The saffron party brought in organizational changes in the neighbouring state of Meghalaya and Tripura.
Manik Saha was appointed the new state president in Tripura, and after chief minister Biplab Kumar Deb stepped down from the post.
In Meghalaya, BJP elected Ernest Mawrie as the new state president in the place of Shibun Lyngdoh.
In West Bengal and Nagaland, the party decided to extend the term of the incumbent president Dilip Ghosh for another term.
Even in Nagaland, the BJP has re-elected Temjen Imna Along as the state president for the second term.
However, the leaders of the Assam Pradesh unit did not disclose the reasons for according a second term to Ranjit Kumar Dass as the state president.
Most probably, taking into account the hostile political theatre, the party is now not in a position to gamble with a new state leader.