Silchar: Ahead of the formation of the new Assam government on May 12, the Barak Democratic Front (BDF) has appealed for the inclusion of a legislator from Silchar in the new Council of Ministers.

Addressing reporters on Sunday, BDF Chief Convener Pradip Dutta Roy said the organisation extends its advance congratulations to the incoming government and hopes it will sincerely address the long-pending issues faced by the people of Barak Valley and the nearly 9 million Bengalis living in Assam.

Roy pointed out that no MLA elected from Silchar, which he described as Assam’s second-largest city, has been inducted into the state Cabinet in the last 42 years. He said successive governments led by the Congress, AGP and BJP failed to ensure ministerial representation for the city. According to him, Jagdish Choudhury was the last minister from Silchar in 1983.

Highlighting Silchar’s historical and strategic importance, Roy said the city played a major role during British rule, with tea plantations being established there and a military airport set up for wartime purposes. He also claimed that the Border Security Force (BSF) was originally established in Silchar. Owing to its geographical location, he said, the city remains important for national security as well as interstate and international trade. However, he alleged that continuous neglect has gradually diminished Silchar’s prominence.

The BDF leader also noted that during the BJP regime, both Dilip Kumar Paul and Dipayan Chakraborty were elected from Silchar but neither was made a minister. He further stated that the son of late Bimalangshu Roy, whom he described as one of the key architects behind the BJP’s rise in Assam, has now been elected from Silchar. Therefore, he said, inducting Silchar’s MLA into the Cabinet would be a mark of respect towards both the late leader and the voters of Barak Valley.

Raising wider concerns related to the Bengali community in Assam, Roy said the BJP leadership must address several unresolved issues affecting Assamese Bengalis. Referring to the party’s promises in West Bengal regarding industrialisation, employment generation and development, he said similar attention should also be given to the concerns of Bengalis living in Assam.

He questioned why many Assamese Bengalis continue to be labelled as “D-voters,” why the citizenship verification process for 1.9 million people excluded from the NRC, including 1.2 million Bengali Hindus, remains unresolved, and why Bengali youths allegedly face difficulties in securing government jobs. He also claimed that the number of Bengalis in government positions in Barak Valley remains negligible.

Roy expressed hope that the new government would seriously consider these concerns and ensure fair representation for Silchar in the new ministry.

The information was shared through a press statement issued by BDF Convener Debayan Deb.