Congress faces internal revolt in Assam’s Mankachar as workers oppose 'Bhatia Muslim' ticket aspirant

A fresh wave of internal dissent has surfaced within the Congress in Assam’s Mankachar Assembly constituency, with party workers launching protests against a potential ticket aspirant ahead of the 2026 Assam Assembly elections.

Local Congress workers gathered in the constituency to voice their opposition to reports that the party may field Mohibur Rahman Bappi as its candidate. 

Speaking to the media during the protest, a Congress worker argued that the party’s prospects in Mankachar would depend heavily on aligning its candidate selection with the local voter base. According to the worker, nearly 70 per cent of the electorate in the constituency belongs to the Deshi (indigenous Muslim) community, while around 25 per cent are Bhatia Muslims, and the remaining five per cent are Hindus.

The worker claimed that selecting a candidate who does not reflect the constituency’s dominant voter base could significantly hurt the party’s chances in the upcoming elections. He further alleged that the proposed aspirant and his family lack sufficient influence in the constituency, citing the defeat of the aspirant’s wife in a previous Panchayat election.

“We want the party high command to carefully assess the ground reality. If the Congress wants to secure a victory from Mankachar, then a candidate from the Deshi Muslim community should be given the ticket,” the worker said.

The development signals growing challenges for the Congress leadership as it prepares its electoral strategy in Assam ahead of the 2026 Assembly polls. Candidate selection has often triggered factional tensions within parties, particularly in constituencies where social and community equations play a significant role in determining electoral outcomes.

Party leaders at the state level have not yet issued an official response to the protests.

Political observers note that Mankachar, located in the western part of Assam along the Bangladesh border, remains a politically sensitive constituency where local identity and community representation often influence voter preferences.

With election preparations expected to intensify in the coming months, how the Congress high command addresses the concerns of its grassroots workers in Mankachar may play a crucial role in shaping the party’s prospects in the constituency.