High drama in Karbi Council

GUWAHATI, July 25: Pandemonium broke out in Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) as soon as the members assembled to attend the session beginning today. Sources in Diphu informed that the anti-Jotson Bey members of the house tried to move a non-confidence motion against the Chairman of the house, Babu Rongpi with the Deputy Speaker, Daniel Teron in the Chair. In fact, Daniel Teron was occupying the chair even before the chairman, Babu Rongpi, entered the house along with the Legislative Secretary Rup Singh Tisso as per the schedule at 10 am. Seeing the Deputy Chairman in the chair, the Chairman along with his supporters and chief executive member, Jotson Bey raised their voice demanding removal of the Deputy Chairman from the chair. On the other hand the other group of members maintained that since a no-confidence motion was to be moved against the Chairman, Rongpi, he cannot preside over the session. Then agitated members belonging to Jotson Bey and Babu Rongpi group tried to forcibly evict the Deputy Chairman from the chair. Amid the din the Chairman walked out of the house along with the Legislative Secretary. Then the house adopted a resolution that the chairman was removed from the chair, with the Deputy Chairman in the chair. At this point a group of 14 members led by the Chief Executive Member (CEM), Jotson Bey walked out of the house. Out of them two were Congress members and one was Independent member while the rest were from the ASDC. After that the house adopted a motion of no-confidence against the CEM, Jotson Bey and later adopted a resolution that the CEM was remove. The House also suspended the Legislative Secretary, Rup Sing Tisso as he was absent in the house while the session was on and appointed Tensing Rongpi, the Assistant Revenue Officer as the Deputy Legislative Secretary in-charge. The house also got the today's proceedings signed him. Now as the confusion prevails over the proceedings in KAAC today, the ASDC President CK Terang informed The Assam Tribune from Diphu over telephone that the resolutions adopted in the house today would be sent to the Governor so that he can facilitate election of a new Chairman and a CEM within 48 hours as per the rule. On the other hand senior ASDC leader, Holiram Terang addressing a press conference in Diphu today stated that there was nothing legal and constitutional about the resolutions adopted in the house against the Chairman and the CEM as the Chairman walked out of the house after failing control the unruly members. Today's happenings in the KAAC was a reflection of ongoing clashes between two ASDC groups led by Jayanta Rongpi and Holiram Terang. The members of the council belonging to Jayanta Rongpi group were out to remove the CEM, Jotson Bey and Chiarman Babu Rongpi who are known supporters of Holiram Terang.