Assam minister Ranjeet Dass faces public wrath in Bajali over office relocation row

Amid mounting public discontent, Assam Minister Ranjeet Kumar Dass was met with intense protests during his visit to Sadar Pathsala in Bajali district on Saturday. Members of the Bajali Zila Students' Union (BZSU) intercepted the minister’s convoy, raising vociferous slogans such as “Go Back Ranjeet Dass,” “Down with the Assam Government,” and “Shame on the Inefficient Minister.”

The protest stemmed from a recent state government notification that proposed shifting the Office of the Public Works Department (PWD) from Bajali’s Sadar Pathsala to Nalbari. This decision sparked widespread outrage among locals and student groups, who accused the government of undermining Bajali’s administrative significance.

The BZSU, leading the protest, demanded a clear explanation from Minister Dass regarding the controversial relocation. They also reiterated their longstanding demand for the final demarcation of Bajali district's geographical boundaries—an issue that has remained unresolved since Bajali was declared a full-fledged district.

The incident has raised questions about the minister’s declining popularity within his own constituency. The visible outrage on the ground reflects a deepening trust deficit between the local populace and their elected representative.