Assam elections 2026: Congress picks ex-BJP MLA Amar Chand Jain for Katigorah, triggers row in party ranks

SILCHAR: Congress’s decision to field former BJP MLA Amar Chand Jain from the Katigorah constituency has triggered an unrest within the party’s local unit in Cachar, with party workers and supporters taking to the streets on Sunday to voice their protest.Within hours of Jain’s candidature being finalised — following his recent switch from BJP — angry Congress workers protested at the Kalain block party office, alleging imposition of an “outsider” candidate. The protesters, led by supporters of local Congress aspirant Sandeep Das, who voiced strong resentment over being denied the party ticket, raised slogans against state leaders, including Gaurav Gogoi and Jitendra Singh, before vandalising the party’s property.The agitation soon spilled onto the streets, with protesters burning banners, bearing images of senior Congress leaders, including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. Police from Kalain police station rushed to the scene to diffuse the situation.Jain had joined Congress in Guwahati on Saturday at Rajiv Bhawan, in the presence of senior leaders, after being denied a BJP ticket from Katigorah.Sources said Congress had delayed announcing its candidate amid backchannel negotiations with Jain, banking on his electoral experience and local connect. However, his induction has exposed internal fault lines within the district unit, where multiple aspirants were vying for the nomination.