By TC News Desk
Agartala, 2nd April 2025: A leadership crisis has gripped the Khowai District Committee of the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) following what many are calling an arbitrary decision by the General Secretary of the State Committee Tapan Kumar Dey.
It is reported that the district conference of the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh was held on November 17, 2024 at Teliamura Kazi Nazrul Vidyabhavan. The event saw the presence of State Committee General Secretary Tapan Kumar Dey, State Committee President Debashree Kalai, District Prabhari Sujit Debnath and other leaders. During the conference, it was unanimously decided that Prabal Dutta would serve as the President of the Khowai District Committee, with Ashutosh Deb appointed as the Executive President. The announcement was met with enthusiasm, and both leaders were felicitated by various affiliated organizations.
However, four months later, a controversial decision by Tapan Kumar Dey saw the removal of Prabal Datta and Ashutosh Deb from their respective posts. Instead, Sanjay Chandra Sarkar was named President, while Prabal Datta was reassigned as Executive President in place of Ashutosh Deb. No official explanation was provided for this sudden reshuffle, and sources claim that neither of the removed leaders was given prior notice.
“This decision goes against the principles of organizational democracy. If their names were unanimously approved during the conference, why were they suddenly changed without explanation?,” said a senior member of BMS on condition of anonymity.
The unexpected leadership changes have sparked outrage across multiple labor organizations in the district, including TRKS and TRSS of Khowai and Teliamura subdivisions. Many members are questioning whether Tapan Kumar Dey was pressured into making this decision or if it was a unilateral move.
Following the controversy, a special meeting was held at Khowai Old Town Hall on March 23rd, attended by State Committee President Debashree Kalai and District Prabhari Sujit Debnath. However, out of the 27 district committee members, only 10 to 12 were reportedly present, raising further doubts about the legitimacy of the new leadership structure.
“The absence of the majority of committee members clearly indicates a lack of support for the new leadership,” said a BMS worker. “The organization is on the verge of collapse due to this authoritarian decision.”
Amid growing frustration, there are concerns that protests may erupt if the grievances of the members are not addressed. Some insiders suggest that many dedicated members are contemplating withdrawing from active participation, which could weaken the organization’s presence in the district.
