In a major political development ahead of the upcoming Assam Assembly elections, three legislators from the Indian National Congress joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday along with two other political leaders.
The MLAs — Kamalakhya De Purkayastha, Sashikanta Das and Basanta Das — formally joined the BJP during a programme organised in the state.
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BJP Leadership Welcomes New Members
Dilip Saikia, president of the Assam unit of the BJP, inducted the leaders into the party in the presence of Union minister Pabitra Margherita.
Party leaders welcomed the move and described it as an important political shift ahead of the elections. The induction programme highlighted the BJP’s continuing efforts to strengthen its organisational base in Assam.
Political observers believe the inclusion of sitting legislators may influence local political dynamics in several constituencies.
Development Follows Recent Political Shifts
The development comes shortly after former Assam Congress president Bhupen Kumar Borah also joined the BJP recently. His switch to the ruling party created significant political discussion in the state.
The upcoming elections to the Assam Legislative Assembly are expected to take place in April. The assembly has 126 seats, and political parties have already started preparing for the polls.
With elections approaching, such political realignments are expected to influence campaign strategies and party equations across the state.
MLAs Earlier Expressed Support for BJP Policies
The three MLAs who joined the BJP had maintained close political ties with the party leadership in recent years. They are also considered close to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
Among them, Sashikanta Das had openly supported several policies of the BJP government earlier. In fact, he publicly backed the ruling party’s initiatives as early as 2021.
Their political shift therefore did not come as a complete surprise to many observers in the state.
Congress Faces Series of Setbacks
The Congress party has experienced several political setbacks in Assam in recent weeks. Apart from Bhupen Borah’s departure, two other party legislators also left the Congress last month.
Abdul Rashid Mondal and Sherman Ali Ahmed joined the regional political party Raijor Dal.
Both leaders are three-time MLAs. Mondal represents the Goalpara (West) constituency, while Ahmed represents the Baghbar constituency.
Political Landscape Ahead of Elections
The recent developments highlight the shifting political landscape in Assam ahead of the Assembly elections. Political parties are actively consolidating support and strengthening their positions before the polls.
Observers believe that further political movements may occur in the coming weeks as leaders reassess their strategies before the state heads into the election season.
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