Guwahati, Feb. 21: An exasperated Badruddin Ajmal may have threatened to dismantle the Assam United Democratic Front if his workers did not behave, but that did not stop a general secretary from throwing a chair at a party legislator during a meeting.

The bickering, which began before the panchayat elections, reached its peak after the results were declared.

“The party president is so upset with the growing indiscipline in the party that during a recent meeting in Nagaon, he even threatened to dismantle the party,” an AUDF leader said.

Ajmal’ threat, however, had little effect on party functionaries.

Just days after he reprimanded the workers, the legislator from Dhing constituency, Mobarak Ali Pathan, was manhandled by the general secretary of the party’s Nagaon unit, Matiur Rahman.

Pathan said Rahman and his supporters threw chairs at him during a meeting of the party’s district unit leaders. He filed a police complaint against Rahman.

Rahman accused Pathan of whimsically leading the party unit. Pathan is also the president of the party’s Nagaon district unit.

Ajmal has ordered an internal inquiry and threatened exemplary punishment to indisciplined workers.

“The problem is much deeper than mere fights. Many of our legislators and senior leaders are in constant touch with the Congress leadership. Unless some bold steps are taken against them, there will be no end to such bickering,” said a dissident leader.

He said even the party president was scared of taking drastic steps against these legislators fearing a split in the party.

“Dhubri legislator Rasul Haque has openly defied the party leadership and is keeping in touch with the Congress. But what action has been taken against him apart from show-causing him once?” the AUDF leader asked.