Former Assam Congress president Bhupen Kumar Borah joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on February 22, weeks before the state heads into Assembly elections.
He was formally inducted into the ruling party at a function held at its state headquarters, Vajpayee Bhawan, in the presence of Assam BJP president Dilip Saikia.
Borah’s switch came days after he resigned from the Indian National Congress on February 16, a move that triggered efforts by the party’s leadership to persuade him to stay. Senior state leaders reportedly visited his residence, and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also spoke to him over the phone. Although Borah had sought time to reconsider, political developments unfolded rapidly.
On February 17, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma visited Borah’s residence and publicly announced that he would join the BJP on February 22. The formal induction on Sunday confirmed the development.
Sanju Bora, a former Congress worker, also joined the BJP during the same event.
Borah’s defection is considered politically significant as Assam prepares for elections to its 126-member Legislative Assembly, likely to be held in March–April. His move from leading the state Congress unit to aligning with the ruling party is expected to influence political equations in several constituencies and intensify the contest between the BJP and the opposition alliance.
