Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday welcomed Nagaon MP Pradyut Bordoloi, a Congress veteran since 1975, into the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), hinting at more opposition leaders joining soon ahead of the April 9 assembly elections.
Speaking to reporters, Sarma said former Congress state vice president Navajyoti Talukdar and others would join the BJP in Guwahati shortly. “We’re finalizing our candidate list this evening. More will join in the next two-three days across Assam,” he added.
Sarma praised Bordoloi’s defection as a boost for the BJP, urging the central leadership to field him in the polls. “There’s no reason for anyone with self-respect to stay in Congress. We aim to bring in more Congress leaders,” he said.
Bordoloi, ending his lifelong Congress ties, accused the party leadership of sidelining him over “multiple issues,” not just ticket denial. “I could have endured the humiliation to stay as MP for three more years, but I chose to leave with my head high,” he told media. Congress has now fielded his son from Margherita constituency.
This follows former Assam Congress chief Bhupen Kumar Borah’s switch to BJP last month after three decades.
Assam’s 126 assembly seats go to polls in a single phase on April 9, with results on May 4. The BJP-led NDA seeks a third term under Sarma, while Congress aims to reclaim power.
