Guwahati, June 24: A day after the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council chief executive member, Tuliram Ronghang, joined the BJP, a farmers' group filed a complaint with the CID against him for "siphoning off" money in the name of implementing an irrigation project.

The Krishak Sramik Kalyan Parishad today said here that Ronghang had siphoned off Rs 4.5 crore in the name of implementing an irrigation project in Rikagnihom village in the hill district.

"The irrigation scheme exists only on paper. So, we decided to file a complaint with the CID. We believe the money was siphoned off by Ronghang, who was in-charge of the irrigation department," said Pradip Kalita, president of the Parishad.

Yesterday, on the 65th foundation day of the council, Ronghang and 17 other members joined the BJP.

Kalita said they had filed another complaint on June 7 against Ronghang for allegedly siphoning off Rs 5.43 crore in the name of setting up another irrigation project. "We have come to know the CID has initiated investigation on our June 7 complaint."

The Parishad criticised the BJP for inducting Ronghang. "The BJP had talked of making Assam corruption-free. But we are dismayed that it has taken in Ronghang, who is involved in corruption," Kalita said. He said they had submitted a memorandum to chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Tuesday about "corruption" in the council.

A council source said the allegations against Ronghang were "baseless".

The state CPM committee also criticized the BJP today for taking in Ronghang. "There were numerous allegations of siphoning off crores of rupee against the members of the autonomous council, including its CEM. When these members were in the Congress, the BJP had protested against corruption. We are stunned to see that the same party has now accepted those members," said CPM secretary Deben Bhattacharya.

The CPM said the BJP got control of the council by "inciting" its members to defect. "This is an extreme example of political corruption. Just after coming to power, the BJP did the same in Dima Hasao Autonomous Council, then in Guwahati Municipal Corporation and then in the Karbi council," he said.

Cong setback

The Congress became a minority in Sonowal Kachari Autonomous Council today after five of its members joined the BJP. The council chairman Tankeswar Sonowal, executive members Ghanakanta Saikia and Biswajit Sonowal of the Congress and two Independents - Diprekha Das Baghri and Khanindra Sonowal - joined the party.

Additional reporting by Sarat Kumar Sarma in Nagaon and Our Bureau