Guwahati, May 6: Senior Indian National Congress leader Debabrata Saikia has dismissed Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s suggestion that he may join the Bharatiya Janata Party in the future, describing the claim as “completely baseless.”
In a message to the people of Nazira following the 2026 Assembly election results, Saikia said serving the constituency for the past 15 years had been the greatest honour of his political career. He also rejected reports that he had sought a Lok Sabha ticket, alleging that such narratives were part of a politically motivated attempt to discredit him.
Accusing the ruling side of spreading misinformation to weaken party morale, Saikia asserted that Congress workers remained resolute. He extended his congratulations to newly elected Nazira MLA Mayur Borgohain and expressed hope that the constituency would continue to receive focused attention under its new representative.
Reaffirming his commitment to public service, Saikia stated that his engagement with the people would continue irrespective of holding any official position.
The remarks came in response to Sarma’s statement on May 5, in which the Chief Minister claimed he had predicted Saikia’s electoral defeat and suggested that a future shift to the BJP was possible. Saikia, who previously served as Leader of the Opposition, lost the Nazira seat by over 46,000 votes to Borgohain, who secured 98,198 votes against Saikia’s 51,497.
The outcome marked a significant setback for the Congress in Upper Assam, with Nazira long regarded as one of its traditional strongholds. Saikia, son of former Chief Minister Hiteswar Saikia, has remained active in state politics since the late 1970s.
