Assam Congress revokes Nilamani Sen Deka's expulsion after 4 years
Synopsis
Four years after being expelled for alleged anti-party activities, veteran Congress leader Nilamani Sen Deka has been reinstated by the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee. The move follows the party's worst-ever Assam Assembly performance — just 19 seats — and signals a consolidation push under APCC president Gaurav Gogoi.
Key Takeaways
The APCC revoked the expulsion of Nilamani Sen Deka on 29 May , nearly four years after his removal in May 2022 .
The reinstatement was directed by APCC president Gaurav Gogoi and formalised by General Secretary Ramanna Baruah .
Deka was originally expelled for allegedly making 'statements harmful to the party' despite written assurances.
A two-time MLA, Deka served as Agriculture Minister and Horticulture and Food Processing Minister under former CM Tarun Gogoi .
Congress won just 19 seats in the recent Assam Assembly polls — its lowest-ever tally — while BJP secured 82 seats on its own.
The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) has revoked the expulsion of former Assam minister and senior Congress leader Nilamani Sen Deka, nearly four years after he was removed from the party for alleged anti-party activities. The reinstatement order, issued on Friday, 29 May, takes effect immediately, according to officials.
The Reinstatement Order
APCC General Secretary (Organisation) Ramanna Baruah issued the formal notification withdrawing the earlier expulsion. The order stated: 'As directed by Hon'ble President, Assam PCC, Gaurav Gogoi, the order issued regarding expulsion of Shri Nilamani Sen Deka is hereby withdrawn with immediate effect.'
Deka, an executive member of the Assam PCC, had been expelled in May 2022 under directions from then Assam PCC president Bhupen Kumar Borah, with the party citing repeated violations of party discipline despite written assurances from Deka.
Why He Was Originally Expelled
The 2022 expulsion order had alleged that Deka 'continued to make statements harmful to the party and engage in activities considered anti-party in nature' even after multiple warnings. The order noted that he had provided written assurances of compliance but allegedly failed to honour them.
Deka had also drawn national attention in 2013 after claiming that eight persons could have a proper meal for ₹20 — a remark that triggered widespread political controversy at the time.
Deka's Political Background
A veteran Congress figure, Deka served as Agriculture Minister as well as Horticulture and Food Processing Minister in the Congress government led by former Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi. He is a two-time MLA who last contested the 2016 Assam Assembly elections from the Dharampur constituency, where he was defeated.
Congress's Assam Context
The reinstatement comes in the aftermath of a historic electoral rout for the Congress in Assam. In the recently concluded Assembly polls, the party won just 19 seats — its lowest tally in the state's history. By contrast, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) crossed the majority mark on its own for the first time, securing 82 seats, with its alliance winning 102 seats in the 126-member Assam Assembly.
Notably, the move to bring Deka back into the fold appears to be part of a broader effort by the Congress to consolidate its dwindling base in Assam ahead of future electoral contests. Whether his return translates into tangible organisational strength for the party remains to be seen.
Point of View
And the party appears to be in damage-control mode — pulling back estranged veterans rather than building fresh cadre. But readmitting leaders expelled for anti-party conduct without a public accounting of what changed risks signalling that discipline is negotiable when numbers are bad. The deeper question is whether Deka's return addresses any structural weakness in the party's Assam organisation, or simply papers over it ahead of the next cycle.
NationPress
14 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Nilamani Sen Deka expelled from Congress?
Deka was expelled from the Congress in May 2022 for allegedly 'repeatedly violating party discipline' by making statements harmful to the party and engaging in anti-party activities, even after providing written assurances to stop. The action was taken under directions from then APCC president Bhupen Kumar Borah.
Who ordered the reinstatement of Nilamani Sen Deka?
The reinstatement was directed by Assam PCC president Gaurav Gogoi and formalised through an official order by APCC General Secretary (Organisation) Ramanna Baruah, taking effect immediately on 29 May.
What is Nilamani Sen Deka's political background?
Deka is a two-time MLA and former minister who held the Agriculture and Horticulture and Food Processing portfolios in the Congress government led by former Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi. He last contested elections in 2016 from the Dharampur constituency in Assam.
How did Congress perform in the recent Assam Assembly elections?
Congress won just 19 seats in the recently concluded Assam Assembly polls, its lowest tally in the state's history. The BJP, by contrast, won 82 seats on its own — crossing the majority mark for the first time — and its alliance secured 102 seats in the 126-member House.
What is the significance of Deka's reinstatement for Assam Congress?
The move is widely seen as part of Congress's effort to rebuild its organisation in Assam after a historic defeat. Bringing back a veteran leader with ministerial and legislative experience could help shore up the party's base, though analysts note that structural rebuilding will require more than individual reinstatements.
