HT Bureau
DIPHU, April 16: Congress of Karbi Anglong received a boost as the former executive member (EM) of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC), Prodip Rongpi along with his supporters returned to Congress fold.
Sources claimed more than 30 party workers from BJP and Nationalist People’s Party (NPP) have joined the Congress.
The former EM of KAAC, Rongpi including others were welcomed into the Congress by felicitating them with Karbi traditional turban in a joining programme held at Karbi Anglong District Congress Committee (KADCC) office in Diphu on Tuesday.
The former EM said that it was like a homecoming for him. Rongpi had won four consecutive times as member of KAAC from Chinthong Member of Autonomous Council (MAC) constituency, West Karbi Anglong. He first won an ASDC ticket in 2001. Two years later Rongpi then joined the Congress. In Congress he won another two consecutive times as Member of Autonomous Council (MAC) from the same constituency Chinthong and was also an EM of KAAC.
On June 21, 2016 the chief executive member (CEM) of KAAC, Tuliram Ronghang along with 26 elected members of KAAC joined BJP en-mass. In 2017 Rongpi again contested the KAAC election from the same Chinthong MAC constituency with a BJP ticket and won the election. He was EM, KAAC then.
In the last KAAC election in 2022, the BJP denied a party ticket to Rongpi. It may be mentioned here that his son Alom Rongpi had also joined Congress last December.
Rongpi said, “I have been elected MAC and EM of KAAC for four times from 2001. In 2001 I was ASDC MAC and two years later I joined Congress. In Congress I was MAC and EM, KAAC for two consecutive terms. In June, 2016 under the leadership of present CEM, KAAC, Tuliram Ronghang we switched to BJP. In 2017 the BJP party gave me a party ticket. I won the election and was MAC and EM, KAAC. But in the last KAAC election in 2022 I was denied a party ticket. Though I was not given a party ticket, I did not go against party principle and stayed loyal to the party.”
Rongpi said that although the BJP had given the promise of implementing Article 244(A) of Indian constitution for granting Autonomous State, and though 10 years in power now, has not done it. “BJP leaders like LK Advani, Rajnath Singh and Amit Shah have made their promises for implementing Article 244(A). Their promises have become lies. But for the Congress Rahul Gandhi has assured to implement it,” the former EM said. He also said his joining the Congress will give a fresh energy to the Congress of Chinthong.
Another person joining the Congress today is Pitor Tisso, BJP state executive member and Prabhari of West Karbi Anglong Minority Morcha. Tisso on April 15 resigned from the party and within 24 hours he was seen joining the Congress.