Former NPCC working president & treasurer, and vice chairman NECCC Dr. Bobby Panicker, has reacted to his ‘expulsion’ from the Congress issued by the NPCC president and which was reported in the local media.
In his statement, Panicker accused a NPCC functionary including an AICC in-charge of conspiring to remove him from his post.
Panicker, while claiming that the expulsion was rooted in “jealousy” and purely an “individual matter”, declared his intention to challenge the expulsion order in the Gauhati High Court, Kohima bench, seeking justice and asserting his innocence with evidence.
He alleged that the problem was started by one NPCC functionary, who wanted to replace him as member of the PCC from Dimapur-1 A/C, an elected post.
Panicker also alleged that his expulsion was orchestrated following a complaint he filed with the central Congress leadership against activities of the AICC in-charge. As a result, he alleged that the AICC secretary conspired and used the NPCC leader to remove him.
Citing the Indian National Congress Constitution, he emphasized that members can only be removed through resignation, death, or party expulsion. Panicker claimed that despite requesting not to disturb him as he had expressed his intent to retire from active politics after the Parliamentary election, the NPCC functionary refused to honor his request.
Panicker claimed that the NPCC functionary had recorded a conversation between them, where he (Panicker) had cautioned the NPCC leader of lodging a complaint to the Central government regarding some financial irregularity. Instead, he said the NPCC functionary lodged a complaint to the PCC president and referred to the recorded conversation.
“Basing on this, the party suspended me. This was the only thing I did. I have never worked against the party. This was purely an individual matter and nothing to do with the party,” he said, adding that he only wanted to prevent the NPCC functionary from taking his position.
However, Panicker cautioned that if the party provoke him, he would definitely take it up with the Union home minister, claiming that he had all evidence to prove it.
He alleged that even though party had suspended him in August 1, 2023, they matter was kept pending to harass him. Panicker further said that when K Therie resigned as NPCC president, he also opted to resign but was asked by the present PCC president to remain in the party till 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Accordingly, Panicker said he agreed to continue.
He also pointed out that being senior most member in the North East Congress Co-ordination Committee, (NECCC), he was appointed as vice chairman of NECCC. Being the vice chairman, Panicker said that he along with K Therie and current party president Supongmeren Jamir attended the Congress co-ordination committee meeting held at Guwahati on January 23, 2024. However, since some of the members did not like it, Panicker said they decided to expel him so that he could not attend the NECCC meeting again.