Party betrayal in Assam: Congress candidate Suren Daimari exits party before polling; Claims lack of support for Scheduled Tribes

Guwahati: A day before polling, Congress candidate for Assam’s Udalguri seat, Suren Daimari, announced his exit from the party and declared that he had “surrendered” his candidature.Congress said Daimari has made his decision public in front of the media but is yet to submit his resignation letter.A senior Election Commission official clarified that Daimari’s name will remain on the EVM as the deadline for withdrawal of nominations has long passed. “Polling parties have already left for their stations. There is no question of withdrawing one’s name now,” the official said. Earlier in the day, Daimari told reporters he had resigned from Congress, alleging betrayal. “There is no benefit of being in Congress. It has betrayed me. Congress only works for the miyas, but they do nothing for the Scheduled Tribes like me,” he said. He claimed the party offered no support in campaigning and ignored his repeated calls for help. “I have not betrayed the party, the party has betrayed me,” he added.Apart from Daimari, there are three other candidates in Udalguri — BJP’s ally BPF’s Rihon Daimari, UPPL’s Dipen Boro, and Voters Party International’s Unike Basumatary.