Guwahati, March 18: In a significant political development, sitting MP Pradyut Bordoloi joined the Bharatiya Janata Party on March 18, a day after resigning from the Indian National Congress, dealing a fresh setback to the party in Assam ahead of the Assembly elections.
Bordoloi formally joined the BJP in New Delhi in the presence of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and state BJP president Dilip Saikia. His switch comes less than a month after former Assam Congress president Bhupen Kumar Borah also crossed over to the BJP, adding to concerns over a steady erosion of leadership within the Congress.
With Bordoloi’s departure, the Congress has lost one of its three sitting MPs from the state, weakening its parliamentary strength at a crucial time when political parties are intensifying campaign efforts. Bordoloi represented the Nagaon Lok Sabha constituency and had submitted his resignation to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge before making the switch.
The timing of the move is being seen as strategically significant, coming amid heightened political activity and realignments ahead of the elections. His exit is viewed as both a symbolic and organisational setback for the Congress, which has been facing internal challenges in the state.
Earlier, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had indicated that Bordoloi was dissatisfied with ticket distribution, describing the development as unfortunate and suggesting that internal disagreements may have contributed to his decision.
Bordoloi’s defection is expected to have wider political implications, raising questions about internal cohesion within the Congress while potentially reshaping the electoral dynamics as the state heads into a high-stakes contest.
