New Delhi, The United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL) has taken swift disciplinary action against Benjamin Basumatary, a member who became the center of a social media controversy for a photo showing him on a bed of currency notes.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the UPPL, an ally of the BJP in Assam, officially distanced itself from Basumatary by suspending him on January 10, 2024. This decision followed a complaint from the Harisingha Block Committee of UPPL on January 5. Additionally, the BTC Government relieved Basumatary of his duties as VCDC Chairman on February 10, highlighting the party’s stand against misconduct.

UPPL Chief Pramod Boro made a public appeal to media outlets to disassociate Basumatary’s actions from the party, stressing that the incident reflected his personal behavior and should not tarnish the party’s image.

The episode underscores the heightened public and political sensitivity to the actions of politicians in the digital era, where images and behaviors are rapidly amplified and scrutinized online.