Assembly elections are due in Assam early next year, and gauging the political mood, leaders are seeking better opportunities.
Nine dissident Congress MLAs close to former Congress minister Himanta Biswa Sarma joined the BJP on Friday. Sarma himself had joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in August this year.
Assam politics began to drift into election mode with nine dissident Congress MLAs affiliated to Himanta Biswa Sarma joining the BJP on Friday.
The legislators joined the party at a function which was held at the Bharatiya Janata Party Assam Pradesh head office in Guwahati in presence of Ram Madhav, national general secretary of BJP.The MLAs had held talks with senior BJP leader and Union Sports minister Sarbanand Sonowal in Guwahati on November 5th , confirming their move.
With the nine more MLAs leaving its ranks, the Congress’ strength in the 126-member Assam Assembly will be reduced to 69 which, however, will be more than enough for the chief minister Tarun Gogoi to continue ruling the state. however it is still a big jolt for the party.
The newly joined leaders say they were inspired to take this move by the Pm’s development agenda.
The MLAs are Bolin Chetia, Pradan Barua, Pallab Lochan Das, Rajen Borthakur, Pijush Hazarika, Kripanath Mallah, Abu Taher Bepari, Binanda Saikia and Jayanta Mallah Barua.
While it’s a jolt for the Congress in the state with elections next year it certainly gives a fillip to the BJP which is optimistic in view of poll results in the last Lok Sabha elections.