Nandita Gorlosa Defects to Congress, Contests Haflong Ahead of Assam Polls
Nandita Gorlosa Defects to Congress, Contests Haflong Ahead of Assam Polls
Days before nomination deadlines, Nandita Gorlosa switches from BJP to Congress, shaking Haflong's race as Assam gears up for 2026 polls.
Ahead of the 2026 assembly elections, Nandita Gorlosa—a sitting MLA from Haflong (ST)—defected from BJP to Congress just a day before nominations, prompting a reshuffle in Congress's candidate list as she is set to contest Haflong.
Gorlosa, born May 13, 1977, hails from Haflong in the hill district of Dima Hasao. She has handled ministerial portfolios such as mines and minerals and tribal faith and culture, and she won Haflong in 2021 on a BJP ticket before later joining the Assam cabinet.
The BJP denied her a ticket this year and instead fielded Rupali Langthasa for the Haflong seat, a move seen in the party's wider strategy that dropped several sitting MLAs. Gorlosa's late switch to Congress means she will contest Haflong on a Congress ticket, underscoring the shifting political calculations as deadlines loom.
Observers say the move highlights the evolving tribal political dynamics in Dima Hasao and signals Congress's attempt to consolidate tribal support ahead of the 2026 polls. The development also adds a new chapter to Haflong's political narrative and could influence voting patterns in a hill district where local issues often dominate.
As Assam braces for a close electoral battle, Gorlosa's entry into Congress serves as a reminder of how last-minute defections can reshape the candidate map and affect campaign narratives in Haflong and beyond.
