Guwahati:
Dissidence within the ruling Congress came to the fore on Saturday on the eve of Assam assembly polls with the resignation of former Chief Minister Anwara Taimur and minister Bijit Saikia.
Taimur, a Congress aspirant from the Dalgaon assembly constituency, resigned from the primary membership of the party after she was denied ticket and joined the minority dominated All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF).
Alleging that "senior" leaders of the Congress have been sidelined in the process of candidate selection, Taimur said today she will not contest the ensuing assembly poll but "actively" campaign for the AIUDF.
Former Industry minister in the erstwhile Hiteswar Saikia-led Congress government, Saikia had resigned after being refused party ticket and joined the Trinamool Congress.
He will be contesting as the Trinamool Congress nominee for the prestigious Tezpur assembly constituency.
Congress party headquarter at Rajiv Bhavan has witnessed protests of disgruntled ticket seekers recently with supporters having demonstrated before AICC General Secretary and state election in-charge Digvijay Singh.
Several other Congress members who had been denied tickets have joined the Trinamool Congress including Debeswar Borah, its state president, but Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said the Trinamool will not be a "factor" in the ensuing polls.
"Those who have joined the Trinamool Congress will come to the Congress fold," he said.