Silchar, Sept 10: The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee’s attempt to present a consolidated challenge in the Silchar Municipal Corporation election was overshadowed by ticket-related unrest on Thursday, shortly after the party announced candidates for 39 of the city’s 42 wards. Furniture was allegedly vandalised at the Silchar District Congress office as a section of party supporters protested against the selection of candidates for Wards 27 and 36.

The chair in district Congress president Sajal Acharjee’s office was reportedly damaged. Acharjee was not present in his chamber when the incident occurred.

Amid the unrest, former minister and veteran party leader Misbahul Islam Laskar was seen at the Congress office. Police personnel were deployed at the premises and brought the situation under control.

A section of the protesters alleged that the party had overlooked established workers while awarding a ticket in one of the wards to a woman leader who had recently crossed over from the BJP. When contacted by The Assam Tribune, party members declined to comment.

The cellphone of district president Acharjee has also remained unreachable since the unrest began. No formal response from the district Congress leadership was available at the time of filing this report.

The unrest has brought the Congress’s internal differences into public view at the outset of the campaign and poses an immediate test for the party leadership. Earlier, the candidate list was approved by Assam Pradesh Congress Committee president Gaurav Gogoi and communicated through a circular signed by general secretary (organisation) Ramanna Baruah.

Candidates for Wards 20, 21 and 34 have not yet been announced, indicating that consultations over the remaining seats may still be under way. The list combines organisational functionaries with former civic representatives.

The Congress has nominated Radha Das from Ward 7 and former Mahila Congress president Bandita Trivedi from Ward 8. Ward 13 is set for a keen contest, with the party fielding advocate Binay Krishna Das, a former municipal commissioner and vice-chairperson of the erstwhile Silchar Municipal Board.

The ward is already drawing political attention following dissent within the BJP over its nominee. Ironically, the APCC circular announcing the candidates directed District Congress Committee office-bearers, Mandal committees and party workers to extend full cooperation to the nominees and coordinate the campaign.