Former Assam Congress chief Bhupen Borah joins BJP

Former Assam Congress chief Bhupen Kumar Borah joined the BJP in Guwahati in the presence of state leaders. Several Congress workers also switched sides. Borah said he was hurt by the Congress leadership’s response to his resignation

Guwahati: Former Assam Congress chief Bhupen Kumar Borah on Sunday joined the ruling BJP in the presence of its state unit president Dilip Saikia here.

Borah became a BJP member during a function held at the Assam BJP headquarters, Vajpayee Bhawan.

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Along with him, former Congress leaders Sanju Bora, Rajesh Kumar Joshi, Kangkan Das, Gagan Chandra Bora and more than a dozen other workers from the opposition party also joined the BJP.

Borah had resigned on February 16, with the Congress high command not accepting it and senior leaders rushing to his residence, while Rahul Gandhi also spoke to him.

He had asked for time to reconsider his decision, but the next day, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma went to his residence and announced that he would join the BJP on February 22.

The 126-member Assam Assembly is expected to go to polls in March-April.

Borah, after joining the saffron party, said: “I did not resign from the Congress thinking that I would join the BJP. I resigned thinking that self-introspection would take place about the wrongs in the Congress, and expected a promise that it would be corrected.” The Congress leadership, which came to his house on Monday, “hurt my sentiment”, he said.

“The Congress also hurt the Assamese community’s feelings. I served the Congress for 32 years with an ideology, conscience and patriotism, but I am hurt now,” Borah said.

Welcoming him to the BJP, Sarma said there may be “some bitterness” inside Borah as he left the Congress after serving the party for more than 32 years with significant contribution.

“From today, a new life starts in the BJP. He is a proud member of the party now. The BJP family will also take care of him and give him love and respect.” Saikia also welcomed Borah and the other Congress leaders who joined the ruling party.

“The strength of the BJP workers has increased from today. The newcomers have come forward after getting inspired by the work of PM Narendra Modi and CM Himanta Biswa Sarma,” he asserted.

Borah’s political experience and administrative efficiency will strengthen the BJP, Saikia added.