Ex-Congress chief Bhupen Borah to join BJP on Feb 22, says Assam CM
Ex-Congress chief Bhupen Borah to join BJP on Feb 22, says Assam CM
Former Assam Congress president Bhupen Borah set to join the BJP on Feb 22, a move that heightens election suspense in Assam.
In a move that could reshape Assam's political landscape, Bhupen Borah, the former chief of the Assam unit of the Congress, is set to join the BJP on February 22, Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Tuesday. The development comes as the poll-bound state braces for Assembly elections later this year.
Borah had sparked a buzz earlier this week by resigning from the Congress and withdrawing that resignation hours later. His exit and re-entry had triggered speculation about rifts inside the Congress unit ahead of the crucial polls.
Sarma visited Borah's residence in the Ghoramara area of Guwahati and was welcomed by Borah's wife and son with a traditional aarti, signaling a formal thaw. After the meeting, the chief minister said Borah's move to the BJP would send a message that the Congress is not a home for Hindus and that Borah would find a platform in the BJP to advance his priorities. He added that Borah would be finalised by the state BJP chief through talks on joining details.
Earlier Borah had said he would withdraw his resignation if senior party leaders Pradyut Bordoloi and Debabrata Saikia convinced him that the party unit was functioning in its true spirit. He stressed he was currently not a member of any party and asked the Congress to involve the two leaders in discussions to resolve the matter. He pointed to the APCC/APCCR label confusion as a sign of dysfunction within the local unit, and suggested a need for real corrective action.
The move is significant ahead of the Assembly elections, with the BJP seeking to consolidate Hindu support and Borah's profile as a senior leader. Opposition leaders vowed to prevent the switch, while the Congress maintained that Borah might reconsider, adding to the ongoing political jockeying in Assam.
The date February 22 has been set for Borah's formal induction into the BJP, with state party leaders and Borah preparing final details. The outcome could influence the regional political balance as campaigns heat up in Assam.
