GUWAHATI: In a dramatic public outburst that has laid bare the simmering internal tensions within the Assam BJP, State BJP president and Lok Sabha MP Dilip Saikia erupted in fury during the inauguration of the Bahjani Mandal BJP office at Alengidal in Nalbari district on Tuesday.
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The incident unfolded in front of none other than Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and PHE Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah, who is also the local MLA. Saikia arrived late to the event, only to find the office already inaugurated in his absence—and, in an apparent slight, the doors locked from the inside, barring him entry.
Visibly enraged and flanked by BJP national in-charge for Assam Harish Trivedi, Saikia lashed out at Bahjani Mandal BJP president Mintu Tamuli, shouting “Side him immediately!” in full public view. The heated confrontation was caught on camera and went viral within hours, sparking intense debate both within party circles and across social media.
Former MLA and BJP-turned-Congress leader Ashok Sharma seized on the chaos to slam the party’s unraveling discipline. “The BJP once stood for principles and order—now that’s history,” Sharma said. He claimed the inauguration was a rerun, pointing out that Jayanta Mallabaruah had already inaugurated the same office on January 31. “They just changed the nameplate and staged a repeat performance. This is straight out of the Congress playbook,” Sharma added, referencing both Sarma and Mallabaruah's Congress roots.
To back up his claims, Sharma revealed two separate invitation letters issued by Tamuli for the same event. “You don’t hold two inaugurations for the same office unless your party is in disarray,” he stated bluntly.
Sharma also reflected on his own experience with intra-party conflicts. “I raised similar concerns before, but no one listened. Now it’s the State BJP president facing the same snub.” While acknowledging Saikia’s anger may have been justified, Sharma questioned whether the outburst was spontaneous or carefully orchestrated. “Was it genuine rage or political theatre?” he mused. “Either way, a reshuffle seems inevitable—Mintu Tamuli’s days look numbered.”
The fiery episode, marked by public embarrassment and visible fractures at the top, has thrown a spotlight on growing factionalism within the Assam BJP. As internal rivalries spill into the open, concerns are mounting about the party’s unity ahead of critical political battles on the horizon.