Panchayat polls: ‘Strict action if proven true’: Congress on Dhubri cash-for-ticket row
Long-time party worker Helim Zaman alleged the Congress for taking money from AIUDF turncoat to contest the Zila Parishad elections
Dhubri, April 10: The Dhubri District Congress Committee is once again at the centre of controversy, with fresh allegations of corruption and favouritism surfacing just ahead of the Zila Parishad elections.
At the heart of the storm is a serious accusation levelled by veteran party worker and Dhubri District Seva Dal President, Helim Zaman, who claims he was unfairly denied a party ticket from the Panbari–Rangamati Zila Parishad seat.
Zaman alleges that the ticket was sold for a bribe of ₹10 lakh to Sanowar Hussain, a former AIUDF member who joined the Congress barely two months ago.
“This is not just about one candidate being overlooked. This is about the rot that sets in when loyalty and service are traded for cash,” Zaman told The Assam Tribune.
Zaman, who has served the Congress for decades, asserts that he had received written assurances from both the All India Congress Seva Dal and the Assam Pradesh Congress Seva Dal in support of his candidacy.
Despite this, his name was dropped from the final list in favour of Hussain — a decision he claims was engineered by Dhubri District Congress President Abedur Zaman, popularly known as Jewel.
The fallout from these claims has sent ripples through the local party unit, sparking anger and demoralisation among grassroots workers.
Reacting to the escalating crisis, Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) Vice President Nipen Thakuria admitted that the allegations were serious.
“I have been informed about the matter. Such practices, if proven true, go against the core values and ethics of the party. I have escalated the matter to the appropriate level, and strict disciplinary action will be taken if the allegations are substantiated,” he said.
This episode is yet another blow to the party’s internal ticket-distribution mechanism, which has faced repeated scrutiny in Dhubri over the years.
With election campaigning gaining momentum, the Congress’s struggle to maintain unity amid internal dissent could severely impact its prospects in this politically sensitive district.
As the dust continues to rise, whether the Congress will act decisively to restore faith within its ranks remains to be seen.
NE's first Rs 22 Cr drug lab inaugurated in Assam, capacity of 5,000 tests a year
"With the lab now operational, there will no longer be a need to send drug samples to Kolkata or other distant locations for analysis," says Singhal
Health Minister Ashok Singhal on Friday inaugurated Northeast’s first-ever state drugs testing laboratory at Jalukbari Ayurvedic College.
Guwahati, May 23: Assam’s Health Minister Ashok Singhal on Friday inaugurated the Northeast’s first-ever state drugs testing laboratory at Jalukbari Ayurvedic College.
Speaking at the event, Singhal mentioned that the lab has the capacity to test around 5,000 drug samples annually.
“With the capacity to test around 5,000 drug samples annually, the facility will not only serve Assam but also extend its testing services to all eight Northeastern states,” said Singhal.
Operated under the Department of Health and Family Welfare by the Commissionerate of Food Safety and Drug Control Administration, the facility is expected to enhance the quality standards of healthcare in Assam and usher in a new era in drug quality testing.
“This lab is a state drug control and drug testing lab. Drugs collected by drug inspectors from different pharmacies across the state will be tested here,” Singhal said during a press briefing.
Built at a cost of Rs 22 crore, the lab building comprises a ground floor and two upper floors. The ground floor houses a reception hall, a sample storage room, and a separate room for security personnel.
“I have been told that equipment worth Rs 22 crore has been installed, which is a significant investment. The equipment is state-of-the-art, and the entire lab is connected to the central drug testing lab in Delhi,” the minister added.
Notably, the first floor is equipped with administrative offices and a conference hall, while the second floor features a state-of-the-art laboratory outfitted with advanced instruments. This lab will play a vital role in ensuring the quality of medicines and taking strict action against counterfeit or substandard drugs.
He added that with the lab now operational, there will no longer be a need to send drug samples to Kolkata or other distant locations for analysis — Assam can now conduct its own tests in a timely manner. He emphasised that this development reaffirms the state government’s commitment to public health and welfare.
NE's first Rs 22 Cr drug lab inaugurated in Assam, capacity of 5,000 tests a year
"With the lab now operational, there will no longer be a need to send drug samples to Kolkata or other distant locations for analysis," says Singhal
Health Minister Ashok Singhal on Friday inaugurated Northeast’s first-ever state drugs testing laboratory at Jalukbari Ayurvedic College.
Guwahati, May 23: Assam’s Health Minister Ashok Singhal on Friday inaugurated the Northeast’s first-ever state drugs testing laboratory at Jalukbari Ayurvedic College.
Speaking at the event, Singhal mentioned that the lab has the capacity to test around 5,000 drug samples annually.
“With the capacity to test around 5,000 drug samples annually, the facility will not only serve Assam but also extend its testing services to all eight Northeastern states,” said Singhal.
Operated under the Department of Health and Family Welfare by the Commissionerate of Food Safety and Drug Control Administration, the facility is expected to enhance the quality standards of healthcare in Assam and usher in a new era in drug quality testing.
“This lab is a state drug control and drug testing lab. Drugs collected by drug inspectors from different pharmacies across the state will be tested here,” Singhal said during a press briefing.
Built at a cost of Rs 22 crore, the lab building comprises a ground floor and two upper floors. The ground floor houses a reception hall, a sample storage room, and a separate room for security personnel.
“I have been told that equipment worth Rs 22 crore has been installed, which is a significant investment. The equipment is state-of-the-art, and the entire lab is connected to the central drug testing lab in Delhi,” the minister added.
Notably, the first floor is equipped with administrative offices and a conference hall, while the second floor features a state-of-the-art laboratory outfitted with advanced instruments. This lab will play a vital role in ensuring the quality of medicines and taking strict action against counterfeit or substandard drugs.
He added that with the lab now operational, there will no longer be a need to send drug samples to Kolkata or other distant locations for analysis — Assam can now conduct its own tests in a timely manner. He emphasised that this development reaffirms the state government’s commitment to public health and welfare.
NE's first Rs 22 Cr drug lab inaugurated in Assam, capacity of 5,000 tests a year
"With the lab now operational, there will no longer be a need to send drug samples to Kolkata or other distant locations for analysis," says Singhal
Health Minister Ashok Singhal on Friday inaugurated Northeast’s first-ever state drugs testing laboratory at Jalukbari Ayurvedic College.
Guwahati, May 23: Assam’s Health Minister Ashok Singhal on Friday inaugurated the Northeast’s first-ever state drugs testing laboratory at Jalukbari Ayurvedic College.
Speaking at the event, Singhal mentioned that the lab has the capacity to test around 5,000 drug samples annually.
“With the capacity to test around 5,000 drug samples annually, the facility will not only serve Assam but also extend its testing services to all eight Northeastern states,” said Singhal.
Operated under the Department of Health and Family Welfare by the Commissionerate of Food Safety and Drug Control Administration, the facility is expected to enhance the quality standards of healthcare in Assam and usher in a new era in drug quality testing.
“This lab is a state drug control and drug testing lab. Drugs collected by drug inspectors from different pharmacies across the state will be tested here,” Singhal said during a press briefing.
Built at a cost of Rs 22 crore, the lab building comprises a ground floor and two upper floors. The ground floor houses a reception hall, a sample storage room, and a separate room for security personnel.
“I have been told that equipment worth Rs 22 crore has been installed, which is a significant investment. The equipment is state-of-the-art, and the entire lab is connected to the central drug testing lab in Delhi,” the minister added.
Notably, the first floor is equipped with administrative offices and a conference hall, while the second floor features a state-of-the-art laboratory outfitted with advanced instruments. This lab will play a vital role in ensuring the quality of medicines and taking strict action against counterfeit or substandard drugs.
He added that with the lab now operational, there will no longer be a need to send drug samples to Kolkata or other distant locations for analysis — Assam can now conduct its own tests in a timely manner. He emphasised that this development reaffirms the state government’s commitment to public health and welfare.