Guwahati : Grassroots workers of the Indian National Congress in Assam have accused some senior leaders of the party’s central leadership of alleged irregularities in the candidate selection process for the upcoming Assam Legislative Assembly Election, and sought an inquiry into the matter.

Party workers from the Srijangram Assembly constituency have submitted a memorandum to Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Member of Parliament and chairperson of the screening committee of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC), alleging serious irregularities in the selection of a candidate for the polls.

In the complaint, the workers alleged that two leaders of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) – Jitendra Singh and Prithviraj Sathe – who are reportedly associated with the candidate selection process, accepted a large sum of money from a prospective candidate, identified as Nurul Islam.

The memorandum claimed that the alleged financial influence had tilted the selection process in favour of the candidate despite concerns among local party workers about his acceptability and credentials.

The workers stated that several loyal party members who have been associated with the Congress for years were overlooked, leading to resentment among grassroots cadres and supporters in the constituency.

They further warned that if the issue remains unaddressed, it could harm the party’s credibility at the grassroots level and weaken its prospects in the constituency in the upcoming polls.

The signatories have urged Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to order a thorough and impartial inquiry into the allegations and ensure the selection of a qualified and acceptable candidate from the constituency.

Party insiders indicated that dissatisfaction over ticket distribution has been surfacing in several constituencies across Assam as preparations gather pace for the Assembly elections. The Congress leadership has not yet issued an official response to the allegations.