Guwahati, March 5: In a fresh political jolt to the state unit of the Indian National Congress, suspended MLAs Sashi Kanta Das and Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha have announced that they will formally join the Bharatiya Janata Party on March 5, marking another high-profile defection in Assam’s evolving political landscape.
Speaking ahead of the induction, Das described the move as a “historic moment” in his political career and confirmed that he would attend the formal joining ceremony at the BJP’s state office. He also took aim at Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi over the alleged Pakistan link controversy, asserting that the issue would have a clear electoral impact in the state. According to Das, the Congress may struggle even to secure the numbers required to qualify as the principal opposition party in the coming political scenario.
Purkayastha, meanwhile, said the timing of their induction had been strategically decided by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, particularly in the context of the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections and related political developments. He stated that the ceremony is scheduled for 8 am and pledged to work “as a soldier of the BJP” to strengthen the party’s organisational and electoral prospects.
The twin defections are expected to bolster the BJP’s position in the state legislature while intensifying the internal challenges faced by the Congress ahead of crucial electoral battles in Assam.
