Assam Leader of Opposition Debabrata Saikia has dismissed the political impact of former state Congress chief Bhupen Kumar Borah joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), asserting that the defection would not harm the party.
“It will not cause any harm because the leaders and workers of his constituency, from where he had been preparing to contest for the last three years, did not decide to go with him,” Saikia said. He added that local party members had made their position clear: “Even if he leaves, we will remain in Congress. Therefore, we will not suffer any harm.”
Saikia stated that the party remains focused on strengthening its grassroots network and “making people aware of those who are doing injustice and working against the Constitution.”
Borah formally joined the BJP on February 22 in the presence of state BJP president Dilip Saikia and MP Baijayant Panda, months ahead of the Assam Assembly elections. His move followed Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma publicly announcing on February 17 that Borah would switch sides after resigning from the Indian National Congress.
Reflecting on his 32-year association with the Congress, Borah earlier said the party had elevated him from MLA to APCC president. He credited himself with breaking the Congress-All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) alliance in 2021 after assuming charge as president, and later forging alliances with 16 parties ahead of the formation of the INDIA bloc.
“I gave 32 years to the Congress party. Congress made me from an MLA to APCC President… When I became president in 2021, Congress was in alliance with AIUDF. I broke the alliance. After that, before the INDIA alliance was formed, I forged alliances with 16 parties,” Borah had said.
He also cited internal differences, alleging that senior leader Gaurav Gogoi publicly humiliated him and did not address his complaints, including those raised with Rahul Gandhi.
