By Gaurav Gautam Saha
Assam Congress is the prime opposition in the state now. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had emerged as the winner, courtesy Legislative Assembly Elections held early this year. The ruling-opposition equation plays a significant role in a health democracy, in practical sense of the term!
MLA Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha represents Karimganj North LAC, a constituency in Assam’ Barak Valley. He is also the working present of Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) and Deputy Chief Whip, Assam Congress Legislature Party (ACLP).
In a telephonic conversation with “NE India Broadcast” on Monday evening, he has put forward strong allegations against the ruling state government, along with his opinion on a couple of issues of social significance.
“I will surrender all my PSOs, if the Chief Minister reduces his security staff (Sic.)”, says MLA Purkayastha, adding that there are many BJP leaders across Assam now, who believe in PSO culture.
“Security is given to VIPs for protection, based on threat.”, he underlines. This is in response to a query regarding the ongoing controversy over security cover of politicians.
He also demands a medical college in his constituency. “We want Medical College & Hospital at Karimganj immediately as per NMC Guideline.”, reads a tweet by the Karimganj MLA on December 20th.
“Sat on a Protest to declare Medical College & Hospital at Karimganj as per NMC Guideline.”, reads another tweet by him, on the same day.
Speaking to “NE India Broadcast”, he says that after his protest, a team led-by Principal Secretary of the state health department is to visit Karimganj on December 29th, Wednesday.
On the tourism-potential of Barak Valley, he said that Government of Assam has given no importance to the region over the years. “There are multiple tourism-spots in Barak Valley, and specially Karimganj; yet there has been no initiative to develop the same.”, he is of the opinion.
Alleging the BJP of practicing communal politics, he said that there is no justification to the subject.
Meanwhile, he says that he continues to maintain a good and cordial relation with former colleague Sushmita Dev, who recently switched over to All India Trinamool Congress (AITC). Dev has been a vocal-voice from the region over the years.
“Perhaps she understood that she would not be able to serve the people being in Congress. I have cordial conversations with her over the phone from time to time”, says MLA Purkayastha.
Interestingly, he accepts that the social media presence of Assam Congress is comparatively weak, in reference to what it should have been!
“Despite challenges, we put in efforts to strengthen social media visibility factor. And that is important. It also requires a lot of financial expenditure. We continue with our bit, for the cause.”, says Kamalakhya.
It may be mentioned that, MLA Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha is popularly known as Raju Da in his constituency, North Karimganj. He is a strong voice in the opposition bench, Assam Assembly; and has been a go-to person for a large number of voters from his constituency.
He was elected as MLA from North Karimganj, for the first time in 2011, defeating four-time BJP MLA Mission Ranjan Das. After 2011, he was again re-elected in 2016 and 2021, despite BJP-factor being significant across the state.
Purkayastha started his political career as a student union leader, courtesy National Students Union of India (NSUI) and he is arguable the first person from Barak Valley to be appointed as a working president of Assam Congress.
