Guwahati: The leadership of the Kalita Janagosthiyo Sanmilan (KJS), the apex body of Assam’s Kalita community, has come under fire from within its own ranks over allegations of systematic saffronisation of the organisation.
Several members have expressed strong resentment over what they describe as an overt political takeover of the community platform, pointing to the growing dominance of BJP ministers and legislators as patrons and chief guests at KJS programmes.
The controversy has sharpened ahead of the KJS biennial conference scheduled to be held at Hamdoi in Upper Assam’s Golaghat district from January 23. According to insiders, the guest list for the event is overwhelmingly drawn from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, raising serious questions about the organisation’s political neutrality.
Among those invited are BJP leaders and ministers, including Gujarat minister Kunvarji Bavaliya, Assam BJP president Dilip Saikia, and state ministers Ajanta Neog, Pijush Hazarika and Jayanta Malla Baruah. Notably absent are reputed scholars, writers, educationists or independent intellectuals from the community.
“It no longer looks like a community conference. Around 80 per cent of the guests are BJP leaders. The entire event has been converted into a BJP meeting,” said a senior KJS member, requesting anonymity.
This, critics say, is not an isolated instance. On December 22, 2025, KJS observed Pragjyotishpur Divas, where as many as 17 BJP ministers and MLAs were invited. Except for Congress MLA Diganta Barman, no leaders from opposition parties were included. Once again, no prominent intellectuals or cultural figures were invited.
Several BJP ministers and MLAs, including Pijush Hazarika, Chandra Mohan Patowary, Jayanta Malla Baruah, Ranjit Kumar Dass, Prasanta Phukan, Bhabesh Kalita and Diganta Kalita, were appointed as patrons. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Rajya Sabha MP Bhubaneswar Kalita and Lok Sabha MP Bijuli Kalita Medhi were among the invitees.
Members allege that core community issues have been sidelined in favour of political appeasement. The Kalita community, which has an estimated population of around 70 lakh in Assam, has long been demanding Scheduled Tribe status and an 18 per cent reservation in government jobs. However, the BJP government has taken no concrete steps on these demands.
“Instead of pressuring the government on our long-pending demands, the KJS leadership appears more interested in pleasing BJP ministers and leaders,” another member said on condition of anonymity.