Guwahati, March 27: Twenty-six years after he became the general secretary of the of the All Assam Students Union (AASU), 11 years after he became AASU’s adviser at the age of over 40 years, and just a few days after he decided to quit his post, Samujjal Bhattacharjya may now once again be handed over the reins — or worse, the remote — of AASU. And formally so, all because the decades, it would seem, were just not enough to groom a second line of leadership for the organisation.

Having formally declared the names of the new office-bearers that were chosen at the Dudhnoi session of AASU this morning, the organisation refused to move ahead without Bhattacharjya, formally placing before him a proposal to reconsider his decision to quit the post of adviser. The reasons for Bhattacharjya’s perceived indispensability came in fast and furious. 

Tapan Kumar Gogoi, who resigned from the post of general secretary on Thursday night, today told The Telegraph that Bhattacharjya had “immensely contributed to the growth of AASU and it would not be an exaggeration to say that he has become indispensable for the students’ union”. “Assam is passing through the most critical phase of its history; AASU needs Bhattacharjya now more than ever,” he said. Sankar Prasad Rai, who had just quit as AASU president, said Bhattacharjya was “AASU’s think-tank”

Observers, though, thought much to the contrary. Writer and social activist Anima Guha expressed serious concern over the union's 'inability' to move ahead without Bhattacharjya, saying the situation only exposed the acute shortage of leaders among the state's student community.

Akhil Ranjan Dutta, a teacher at Gauhati University, said the very existence of Bhattacharjya in AASU for such a long time had negated the growth of a pluralistic leadership in the union.

Bhattacharjya, who said he would require some time to take a call on the development, however, rejected the allegation that AASU has failed to groom leaders.

On his future plan of action, he reiterated his resolve not to join politics and pledged to continue to work for the people of the state while keeping himself outside the 'circle of politics'.

Meanwhile, at Goalpara, the new office bearers today pledged to take the legacy forward.

New AASU president Dipanka Kumar Nath, said, 'During my tenure I will try to take forward the fight that AASU has been waging to solve some of the issues like illegal Bangladeshis. Besides we will emphasise educational problems.'

Nath, who has done his masters in three subjects, had penned the constitution of the students' union of Dudhnoi College when he was its vice-president.

He was assistant general secretary of Post-Graduate Students' Union of Gauhati University and three-time education secretary of AASU.

He had prepared an academic calendar from lower primary standard to masters courses and a syllabus from Classes V to class XII during his term as education secretary.

The general secretary of AASU, Lurin Jyoti Gogoi, said, 'We should give top priority to the upcoming generation and try to involve new concepts in the education sector of Assam. Research-oriented courses and institutes should open in Assam.''

A research scholar in mathematics in Dibrugarh University, Gogoi has been an active activist of AASU in the university. He joined the student body in 1999 and hails from Lipuli in Tinsukia district.

Biren Saikia, the new publicity secretary, was a general secretary of the lower Majuli unit of AASU and had worked to highlight and find solutions to the problems of the river island. Later, in Jorhat, he had worked to improve the education environment in the district and also tried to find a solution to the Assam-Nagaland border issue.

Hailing from Bali Sapori, Majuli, in Jorhat district, Saikia has been president of the Jorhat unit of the students' body for three terms from 2004-13.

Saikia who was an adviser before being selected publicity secretary of the central committee, said, 'As publicity secretary under the present leadership I will ensure that the students remain aware of important issues and ahead of the times.'

Duldul Borkataki, the assistant general secretary, was born in 1977 at Pavoi in Sonitpur district.

A commerce graduate from Darrang College, Borkataki was founder-president of AASU's Pavoi branch in the district.

He was the assistant general secretary of the Biswanath Anchalik Committee, acting general secretary of Sonitpur district unit, and a central executive member of AASU.

'I would like to work for the Assamese people and their problems. I am very happy that in my district the work to update the National Register of Citizens began today. The same day, I have returned to the district as assistant general secretary of AASU for whose efforts the process of updating the NRC happened,' Borkataki said.

Anil Gogoi, the organising secretary, said, 'We will give priority to the education sector of Assam and fight for good education for the students.'

Gogoi was elected organising secretary of AASU's central committee and was involved in AASU for the past 22 years. He hails from Bhadoi Panchali in Duliajan. Earlier, he was the president of AASU Bhadoi Panchali unit and Duliajan Anchalik. He had been elected the Dibrugarh district president for six months.