The United Liberation Front of Assam's anti-talk faction on Wednesday 'removed' Arabinda Rajkhowa as its chairman and 'appointed' acting chairman Abhijit Asom as its new leader.

"We are confident that under the leadership of the new chairman, the outfit will make great strides and help in fulfilling the aspirations of the people of Assam," anti-talk faction's publicity in-charge Arunodoy Asom said in a statement e-mailed to media organisations in the state.

"We had made a sincere appeal to Rajkhowa to return to the outfit and give up his alliance with the government forces ...but there was no response from his side," he said. The outfit had fixed July 29, 2012 as a deadline for Rajkhowa to return to the outfit.

Rajkhowa along with several top leaders of the outfit had participated in negotiations with the Centre to bring peace to Assam which was opposed by the anti-talk faction, led by ULFA's commander-in-chief Paresh Barua.