Guwahati: In a dramatic political twist, former BJP cabinet minister Nandita Gorlosa filed her nomination from the Haflong (ST) seat as a Congress candidate after joining the party late on Sunday night.Gorlosa, who has represented Haflong since 2021, replaced Congress nominee Nirmal Langthasa, who withdrew minutes after his name was announced by the AICC to make way for her. She formally joined Congress in the presence of Assam Pradesh Congress Committee general secretary Langthasa in Haflong.Though BJP leaders had expected her to stay on despite being denied a ticket, speculation about her switch had been growing. Congress described Gorlosa — who earlier served as minister for youth and sports and minority department in the Himanta Biswa Sarma-led govt — as a strong voice for Dima Hasao district. The party alleged she was sidelined for standing with the people of the hills and accused the BJP govt of trying to hand over tribal land to corporations.On Monday, the final day for filing nominations, Gorlosa submitted her papers accompanied by Langthasa and other senior district Congress leaders. “I have filed nomination papers on behalf of Congress. Here, local politics is quite different,” she said.Known for her calm, low-profile style, Gorlosa said she was grateful to CM Himanta Biswa Sarma for mentoring her but said, “I thought it was the best time for me to move on, though I am not saying anything bad about anybody.” She added that she had faced hurdles within the party despite remaining disciplined.“This is now a free political affair for the people of my district. With this, I have become a Congress candidate,” she added.Gorlosa said her supporters wanted her to return once more. “I am hopeful of winning because we have worked a lot. BJP shaped me, but as a Congress member I will take it forward,” she said.Langthasa said Gorlosa’s entry into Congress was part of a planned strategy. “There are many factions within BJP. The original BJP is gone,” he said, adding that the AICC’s delay in announcing the Haflong candidate was deliberate. He said Gorlosa was shocked at being denied a BJP ticket. “When CM came here yesterday, he did not give her any assurance. Then I told my president that we are changing the plan,” Langthasa said.AICC general secretary in-charge of Assam Jitendra Singh said, “For the past five years, she has been a strong voice of Dima Hasao, consistently standing firm on her beliefs and principles, even at personal and political cost. Under Himanta Biswa Sarma’s corrupt governance, tribal interests have been neglected, with a focus on handing over land to big corporations.”
