The All Koch Rajbongshi Students’ Union (AKRSU), formed to demand the creation of a separate Kamatapur state, Scheduled Tribe status, and to address various pressing issues of the Koch Rajbongshi community, has once again witnessed a split despite earlier efforts at unification. After several attempts to bring together the divided factions, a new central committee was constituted on July 29, 2025, at Bongaigaon. The committee was formed with Kshitish Barman as Chief Adviser, Manoj Ray as President, and Balaram Barman as Secretary. However, within a year of its formation, the unified body has fragmented again, leading to the emergence of four separate groups. On Saturday, yet another new central committee was formed in Gossaigaon.
The new 31-member central committee was constituted at the office of AKRSU’s West Kokrajhar district committee located at Dalgon near Gossaigaon town, in the presence of representatives from several district committees. Maniram Ray was elected President, while Mrinal Ray and Keshab Ray were appointed as Joint Secretaries.
Following the representatives’ meeting, newly elected President Maniram Ray addressed a press conference. He stated that although AKRSU was unified in the interest of the Koch Rajbongshi community, the committee led by Manoj Ray failed to take effective steps to resolve key issues. He alleged that important demands such as the formation of a separate Kamatapur state and the granting of Scheduled Tribe status were not raised with the necessary seriousness. Despite repeated proposals to discuss community issues and development matters, these were allegedly ignored.
Maniram Ray further stated that the unified leadership deviated from AKRSU’s core demands and failed to give due importance to the unification process. As a result, several factions have already emerged, including groups led by Pradip Ray (undivided Goalpara district), Ratul group, Dipen group, and Middle Assam group. He claimed that many members have collectively resigned from the unified committee.
Although a new committee has now been formed in the interest of the community, Maniram Ray emphasized that the repeated fragmentation of AKRSU is not beneficial for the Koch Rajbongshi people. He called for the formation of a unification convening committee to review the causes behind the divisions and expressed willingness to cooperate in future unification efforts.
Joint Secretaries Mrinal Ray and Keshab Ray also addressed the media, stating that the earlier unification had failed to yield tangible results for the community. They criticized the Manoj Ray-led committee for not taking strong action regarding the Scheduled Tribe status issue, especially after the related report was passed in the Assembly but not forwarded to the Centre. They also pointed out that no response was made by the unified leadership after the Chief Minister’s statement ahead of the Assembly elections that leaders of six communities had not demanded ST status.
The newly formed committee announced that, expressing no confidence in the current unified leadership, a central representatives’ meeting was convened at the West Kokrajhar district AKRSU headquarters in Gossaigaon. During the meeting, discussions were held on the activities of the present leadership, and a no-confidence motion was adopted. Consequently, a resolution was passed to form a new central committee.
The representatives’ meeting also expelled current President Manoj Ray, General Secretary Balaram Barman, and Chief Adviser Kshitish Barman from AKRSU with immediate effect, alleging their involvement in unconstitutional activities.