Guwahati, Jan. 18: The Asam Sahitya Sabha today made its vice-president, Prahlad Chandra Tasa, the president of its centenary celebrations in Upper Assam's Sivasagar district next month, after weeks of controversy.

The vice-chancellors of Gauhati University, Krishna Kanta Handiqui State Open University and Kumar Bhaskar Varma Sanskrit and Ancient Studies University, Mridul Hazarika, Hitesh Deka and Dipak Kumar Sharma respectively, with whom the Sabha had earlier formed a "committee of presidents" for the celebration, will remain advisers.

The decision followed separate meetings of the vice-chancellors with two former Sabha presidents, Kanaksen Deka and Lakhinandan Bora, delegations of the reception committee constituted for the centenary celebration and Sabha representatives at the circuit house here.

Tasa had earlier declined the post, saying he wanted to contest the elections for the Sabha's next executive body. The Sabha's president is the ex-officio president of its election committee and is not allowed to contest elections. "We did not want to set a bad precedent, so we decided to remain advisers instead of presidents. We will continue to help the Sabha till the next executive body takes charge," Hazarika told reporters after the meeting. He was referring to the creation of a committee of presidents by the January 8 general house of the Sabha. According to the Sabha's constitution, the vice-president discharges duties in the absence of the president.

Sources said the vice-chancellors' decision to remain advisers was a result of suggestions by the former presidents.

Paramananda Rajbongshi, who had "temporarily" relinquished his post after public outcry and protests from various Sabha committees, has written to the vice-chancellors that he would not take up any post of the Sabha till 2019.

"Rajbongshi has written to us saying he will not take part in any elections of the Sabha for next two years. He has authorised us to remove his name even if proposed by any committees," said Hazarika.

The representatives of the reception committee have invited everyone to the celebrations, which will continue from February 8 to 12. Among other programmes, 100 books will be released.

The celebrations cannot be postponed as Jerenga Pathar, the venue, will get inundated once the rains arrive.