Assam: Factionalism deepens in Barpeta Congress amid dispute over Chenga Block President

The Congress party in Barpeta witnessed a dramatic escalation of internal discord on Friday, March 7 over the appointment of the Chenga Block Congress president, leading to heated confrontations and physical altercations among party members. The dispute unfolded at the Barpeta District Congress office, Rajiv Bhawan, in the presence of Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) General Secretary Kandarpa Kalita.

The tension stemmed from the APCC’s decision to appoint Mizanur Rahman as the Chenga Block Congress president—a move that sparked strong opposition from local party workers in the Chenga region. Dissatisfied with the leadership choice, grassroots Congress members vehemently protested the appointment, arguing that their voices had been disregarded.

Despite the objections, APCC representatives proceeded with Rahman’s formal appointment at Rajiv Bhawan, triggering angry reactions from the dissenting faction. The situation quickly escalated as party workers engaged in heated verbal clashes, which soon turned into physical scuffles.

As tensions flared, frustrated Congress members confronted APCC General Secretary Kandarpa Kalita and Barpeta District Congress President Rajiv Ahmed, demanding that the leadership decision be reconsidered. In a dramatic development, protesting party workers temporarily confined Kalita inside Rajiv Bhawan before he was eventually allowed to leave.

The unrest continued later in the day at a Congress Mandal President meeting in Barpeta’s Muslimpatty, attended by Dhubri MP Rakibul Hussain. The meeting was soon disrupted as agitated Congress workers resumed protests against the leadership appointments, resulting in chaos and vandalism. Protesters reportedly damaged chairs and tables, forcing party leaders to cut the meeting short.

The ongoing leadership rift within the Barpeta Congress has highlighted the party’s deepening internal conflicts, with repeated disputes over block-level appointments fueling organizational instability. Political analysts warn that if the Congress leadership fails to address grassroots concerns, the unrest could weaken the party’s influence in the district ahead of future elections.

As of now, local Congress leaders have not issued an official statement regarding the turmoil. However, the recent clashes at Rajiv Bhawan and Muslimpatty reflect broader factional struggles within the Assam Congress, where internal disputes continue to challenge party unity and stability.