13 Cong members resign from Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council

Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) plunged into crisis after 13 of its Congress executive members and three Board chairmen resigned today demanding the resignation of Chief Executive Member (CEM) and party member Joyram Engleng.

Engleng is being held allegedly responsible by a section of the council's executive members for the large scale violence in the district during the agitation for a separate hill state in the wake of the announcement of Telangana state.

Congress-ruled KAAC has 30 members, including four nominated members who have no voting rights.

Executive member D Uphing Maslai told reporters here that they have sent their resignation to Assam Governor J B Patnaik and Engleng should step down.

He said 17 members of Congress had earlier submitted a memorandum to the governor expressing their no-confidence in the CEM.

Patnaik had ordered a special session of the Council be convened on October 7 but Engleng filed a petition in challenging the order, which was subsequently stayed.

Maslai said the CEM acted in a 'high-handed manner' and functioned without taking the executive members into confidence.

Engleng in his reaction said the resignations of the executive members of the council have to be first accepted by the Governor and only then can a no-confidence motion be brought against him.