Mass Resignation of Koch Rajbongshi Leaders from UPPL
Chirang, Nov 30: The United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL) faced a significant blow on Sunday as numerous leaders from the Koch Rajbongshi community stepped down collectively, citing the party’s inaction regarding their longstanding request for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.
This decision was reached during a meeting in Sidli, located in the Chirang district, where community leaders announced that all Koch Rajbongshi members affiliated with UPPL would gradually resign. Central committee members, along with block and district representatives, submitted their resignations on Sunday, with more expected to follow suit shortly.
Kusumbar Choudhury, a member of the UPPL Central Working Committee, expressed disappointment, stating that the community had hoped for a definitive stance from the party after the ST status proposal was introduced in the Assembly.
Choudhury remarked, “Various communities are advocating for ST status, which is our democratic right. As members of UPPL, we expected the party to take a clear position. However, the president’s recent comments were perceived as biased.”
He noted that influential Koch Rajbongshi organizations, such as the Kamatapur Liberation Organisation-Kochan Nationalist (KLO-KN) and the All Koch Rajbongshi Students’ Union (AKRASU), had encouraged community members within UPPL to resign.
“In response to their call, we deliberated and decided that all Koch Rajbongshi members would submit their resignations. Today, central committee members and block and district representatives have done so, with others set to follow,” he added.
Choudhury described the recent unrest in Kokrajharwhere tribal groups protested against granting ST status to six communities, as a regrettable event, stressing the need for a democratic resolution to the issue.
Sribas Barman, the UPPL central secretary, who was also present at the press conference, shared similar views, indicating that the leadership had not provided a satisfactory explanation regarding the matter.
“We are resigning as a group because the party president failed to clarify his stance. Our decision has the backing of AKRASU, KLO-KN, and local community members,” Barman stated.
He urged the government to address this demand promptly, warning against neglecting it as in previous years or using it as a mere political tool ahead of the 2025 Assembly elections.
Barman called on both state and central governments to “swiftly resolve the issue and grant ST status” to the Koch Rajbongshi community. He condemned the Kokrajhar violence, emphasizing the importance of peaceful protests and avoiding conflicts with existing ST communities.
Leaders indicated that all Koch Rajbongshi workers and office bearers within UPPL are anticipated to resign in stages, marking a notable political shift in the Bodoland Territorial Region.
This development occurs amid rising tensions following tribal groups’ resistance to the inclusion of six communities in the ST category.
