Upset with selection,workers ransack HQ

Most of the party workers had come from Hajo,Boko,Naoboicha,Gohpur,Dudhnoi and Rupahihat constituencies and demanded a change of candidates. There was also a large group of women who protested against the denial of a ticket to Mahila Congress chief Sharifa Begum.

Party workers who were already shouting slogans in support of their demands refused to let Digvijaya Singh and PCC chief Kalita enter the party office. The police had a tough time escorting them in. By then irate Congress workers had already entered the main building,climbed to the first floor and torn off posters of Sonia Gandhi,Tarun Gogoi and Kalita.

Some of the party workers were also heard complaining that one of the candidates was a known criminal and had several cases pending against him. One group was also heard complaining of transaction of money in selecting candidates.

Once inside,Digvijaya Singh addressed a brief press conference amid shouting of slogans by the workers who had entered the meeting hall,and said the party had already decided on the candidates and that there would be no change in the list.

I have handled ticket distribution for more than 25 years and I know some anger is always there when tickets are distributed. This is because while a large number of people apply,we can nominate only 126, Singh said.