In a new twist to the raging controversy over former Assam Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta's alleged second marriage, the ruling Congress on Tuesday said the AGP chief was trying to malign the party by involving the name of one of its ministers. Mahanta after creating a political turmoil involving his second marriage was trying to divert attention of the people by involving the name of a senior minister, The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee spokesman, Ripun Bora, told a press conference here in Guwahati. Bora was referring to a recent report with the Tehelka.com where it was alleged that the PWD minister Sarat barkatoky had handed over Rs 15 lakh to Sanghamitra Bharali, the woman whom Mahanta reportedly married, and some photographs of the couple to be distributed in the media. Describing the reports as Imaginary and baseless, Congress spokesman urged tehelka to reveal its source as there was neither any source mentioned in the story nor the name of the reporter.
The congress also wanted to know why Mahanta had so far not filed a defamation case against Bharali who had given interviews about their marriage or even demanded a high level inquiry and was only content with denying the charge, he said. the former Chief Minister had denied the bigamy charge and alleged that it was part of a political conspiracy against him.

Bureau Report