Guwahati, Jan. 21: The Assam PCC has included former minister Gautam Roy in the committee constituted for finalisation of candidates for the February 9 civic body polls while his supporters called a bandh and blocked highway seeking his continuation in the Tarun Gogoi ministry.

The Telegraph had reported in today's publication that legislators facing the axe would be engaged by the party or the government to give them due importance. They are likely to be accommodated as chairperson or adviser in the government with cabinet rank and as vice-presidents and general secretaries in the PCC to avail their services in an election year.

Roy, along with other ministers, had resigned from the ministry on January 19 to pave the way for Gogoi to reshuffle his 19-member council of ministers. Indications are that Roy will not be in the new ministry along with seven other former ministers. The swearing-in will take place on January 23 at the Raj Bhavan here.

In an apparent bid to reach out to ministers likely to face the axe, Assam PCC president Anjan Dutta said, 'Roy is a senior party member and his services and that of others like him will be utilised for party activities. The party is united. Nothing much must be read into it.'

Reacting to the 12-hour Hailakandi bandh observed by Roy's supporters today, Dutta said Roy met him at Rajiv Bhawan and assured him that he would go to Hailakandi and talk to his supporters.

While acknowledging that the supporters were a 'little' upset with the developments surrounding the reshuffle, Dutta added, 'But I have told everyone that indiscipline will not be tolerated. If there are such protests anywhere in the state in future, local leaders will be held responsible.'

Besides Roy, the Dutta-headed poll committee includes Haren Das (convener), Bhumidhar Barman, Sarat Borkataky, Ripun Bora, Rakibul Hussain, Ajanta Neog, Sushmita Dev, Bibekananda Doloi, Ramesh Jain and Raju Prasad Sharma.

Police said 791 picketers were arrested from Hailakandi district during the bandh, of which 400 were from Roy's constituency Katlicherra, which is one of the three Assembly constituencies in the district. His supporters also burnt Dutta's effigy. Three supporters had tried to immolate themselves on Tuesday.

Hailakandi district Congress committee president Ashok Duttagupta said if Roy was not included in the new ministry, they would intensify their agitation from Saturday.

Various organisations of the district, including All Assam Madrassa Students' Association and the Northeast India Nadwatut Tamir supported the bandh.

The MLA's supporters also staged demonstrations in adjacent Karimganj and Cachar districts. They blocked the road at Srikona in Cachar for about two hours from 10am.

Roy, in his sixties, is a six-time MLA from Barak Valley. His wife is also a sitting MLA.

Additional reporting by our correspondent in Hailakandi