Congress yet to name CLP leader, awaits high command’s call

Guwahati: Congress MLAs in Assam said they would follow the party high command’s decision on choosing their leader in the house, amid BJP attacks that the party has become Muslim-dominated. Of the 19 newly elected Congress MLAs, 18 are Muslims.The debate has centred on whether Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader — who is also expected to be projected as leader of the opposition — should be a Hindu or a Muslim. By seniority, Birsing Jarua MLA Wazed Ali Choudhury is the most experienced Congress MLA. The party’s only Hindu MLA is first-time legislator and former NSUI state president Jay Prakash Das.Party sources said Congress is likely to go by seniority and experience, in keeping with its secular stand. However, no instruction has yet come from the high command, even though the opening session of the 16th Assam assembly begins on Thursday.NDA has already chosen Himanta Biswa Sarma as leader of the house, and he was sworn in as CM for a second consecutive term. BJP ally AGP has named Atul Bora as its leader, and he was also sworn in as a cabinet minister. Congress MLAs had expected a legislature party meeting before the opening session, but it did not take place.APCC working president and Pakabetbari MLA Jakir Hussain Sikdar said no decision has been made yet on CLP leader. “Congress Legislature Party leader should have been named by now, but the reason for the delay is unclear,” he said.Congress MLAs expect their leader to be chosen soon in the presence of AICC-appointed observers. Sikdar said there is no internal dispute over the selection and that the matter has been left to the party high command. He added that the leadership has not yet sought the MLAs’ views in this regard.Congress won only 19 seats in the recent assembly polls — its lowest tally in Assam. There were doubts over whether it would qualify for the post of leader of the opposition. However, after a rule change last year, 13 MLAs are now sufficient for recognition, instead of the earlier requirement of 21. Assembly sources said the final appointment of the leader of the opposition remains at the speaker’s discretion.