Guwahati: Former Assam Congress president Bhupen Kumar Borah joined BJP on Sunday at the party’s state headquarters, Vajpayee Bhawan in Guwahati, a day after meeting Union home minister Amit Shah, following approval for his induction from BJP national President Nitin Nabin.Soon after his joining, BJP assigned Borah the role of state executive member in the party’s state committee. Borah, whom CM Himanta Biswa Sarma described as the “last Hindu leader” in Assam Congress, said he quit Congress and “Duryodhan” to work for the country and the Assamese community. He is being seen as a possible BJP candidate from his home constituency, Bihpuria, in Lakhimpur district, while Sarma said Borah would be given a ticket from a “favourable seat” that would improve his chances in assembly polls.
He submitted his resignation to the AICC leadership and party chief Mallikarjun Kharge last week, saying he felt “ignored” within Congress. He accused Dhubri MP Rakibul Hussain of taking control of Congress in Assam, and expressed dissatisfaction that the party leadership did not give him a free hand to handle opposition alliance discussions and the seat-sharing arrangement.Speaking at Vajpayee Bhawan in the presence of Assam Pradesh BJP president Dilip Saikia, Borah said, “With a motive to serve the country, I worked in Congress for 32 years. For me, the interest of the country, my land and its people, is far above personal interest and the party’s interest. I started my political career with this teaching and will continue to keep it in mind.”He said CM Sarma is the most influential leader in the northeast and that he joined BJP to support him. Borah also said he would serve as a link between dissatisfied Congress workers with self-respect and the BJP, likening them to Karn and urging them to join the Pandavas before the Mahabharata war. “I will act as Saraighat bridge for those Karns of Rajiv Bhawan to come to Vajpayee Bhawan,” Borah said.Welcoming him, Sarma said Borah was beginning a new political phase from Sunday, aligned with BJP’s ideology and culture. “BJP family will be with him (Borah) and he will get due respect and affection in BJP,” Sarma said, while also recalling Borah’s contributions during his time in the Congress.Later, Borah posted on X that “After reflection”, he joined the BJP with renewed purpose. “Assam’s legacy deserves development with dignity and inclusion. I step forward with humility and resolve to serve the state and the people,” he wrote.Borah joined BJP along with former APCC general secretary Sanju Baruah. The event was attended by BJP national vice-president and assembly election in-charge Baijayant Jay Panda, state in-charge Harish Dwivedi, state organisational general secretary GR Ravindra Raju, convenor of assembly election management committee and MP Pradan Baruah, minister Jayanta Malla Baruah, and other leaders. Dilip Saikia said Borah’s entry would strengthen the party, adding, “Borah’s organisational expertise and extensive experience would play a vital role in further consolidating the party’s structural foundation.”Others who joined at the same programme included former deputy chief executive member of the Deori Autonomous Council Swarganarayan Deori, former Lakhimpur district Congress president Gagan Chandra Bora, filmmaker and national award winner Maniram Singha, several other Congress leaders at the state and district levels, and around 500 Congress workers.
