BJP leader alleges OSD to CM ‘blocked’ his letter

Guwahati (Assam), 3 August 2018

A BJP leader in Assam has accused an officer on special duty (OSD) to Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal of “blocking” his letter which led to his losing candidature as an MP of Rajya Sabha.

Speaking to InsideNe, Bhupendra Kaman, who is a state executive member and also a general body member of the Jyoti Chitraban Film Society, said, “I was supposed to be nominated as a Rajya Sabha member as I have been thoroughly engaged with films in the state. I had written a letter to the CM requesting him to recommend my name for my candidature under the indigenous film personality quota. The letter was also signed by the CM. However, I learnt in due course that the letter was never dispatched from the CM’s office”.

Kaman alleged that the OSD, Prakash Kashyap, had blocked the letter from being delivered to the BJP’s central committee. He said due to this act of the OSD, someone else was nominated.

The BJP leader said he had already lodged a complaint with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, party president Amit Shah and Sonowal. He said Lakhimpur MP Pradan Baruah and Assam’s Cultural Affairs Minister Naba Kumar Doley had also recommended his name.

“When I enquired about the status of the letter from the OSD Prakash Kashyap, he refused to state the position and suggested me not to pursue the matter as it is confidential,” Kaman said.