Congress Exodus in Assam: MLA Joins Raijor Dal, More Defections Loom Ahead of Polls
Assam Congress MLA Defects to Raijor Dal, More to Follow

Congress Exodus in Assam: MLA Joins Raijor Dal, More Defections Loom Ahead of Polls

In a significant political development in Assam, with barely a few weeks left for the notification of the assembly polls, one of six Congress MLAs rumoured to defect has formally joined the regional political party, Raijor Dal. The others are poised to follow suit, signalling deeper fractures within the opposition as election preparations intensify.

Strategic Defections and BJP Alignment

Among the group of six Congress MLAs, three Hindu legislators are tipped to align with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), according to sources. This move highlights the ongoing realignment in Assam's political landscape. The timing of these defections is strategic, hinging on the upcoming electoral calendar and internal party dynamics.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has intervened, asking the defectors to "stay put" until the Rajya Sabha elections conclude. He stated, "They have been expressing their intention to resign from Congress for a long time. We have asked them not to resign now and wait for some time as the elections for the three seats to the Rajya Sabha are very important. We will need the three votes."

Rajya Sabha Elections and Political Calculations

Three Assam Rajya Sabha seats are due to become vacant on April 9, as the tenures of BJP MPs Bhubaeswar Kalita and Rameswar Teli, along with Anchalik Gana Morcha MP Ajit Kumar Bhuyan, will end. This will require elections beforehand, likely by early April, to comply with legal deadlines. However, no official schedule from the Election Commission has been announced as of now.

On the prospect of new entrants into the BJP, Sarma added, "For anyone to join BJP, we need to do a lot of calibration within the party, as we don't have vacancies. I can predict that people will resign from Congress, whether or not they join BJP.... After Gaurav Gogoi's Pakistan link, a lot of Hindu Congress leaders are joining BJP at the grassroots level."

Formal Joining of Raijor Dal

Abdur Rashid Mandal, who represented the Goalpara West assembly constituency in 2006, 2016, and 2021 on a Congress ticket, officially joined the Sivasagar MLA Akhil Gogoi-led Raijor Dal in the presence of the latter. Mandal had been seen occasionally supporting BJP-led initiatives, such as the Assam government's 2023 polygamy ban proposal, while staying with Congress.

Mandal expressed his enthusiasm, saying, "I am happy to join the growing Raijor Dal under Gogoi. I am looking forward to strengthen his hands as a simple worker."

Other MLAs Likely to Defect

Besides Mandal, several other Congress MLAs are rumoured to defect soon:

  • Sherman Ali: First elected in 2011 on an AIUDF ticket before switching to Congress and winning from Baghbar constituency in 2016 and 2021. He is likely to join Raijor Dal very soon.
  • Sashikanta Das: From Raha constituency.
  • Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha: From Karimganj North constituency.
  • Siddeque Ahmed: From Karimganj South constituency.
  • Basanta Das: From the Mangaldoi (SC) constituency.

These potential defections underscore the ongoing political turmoil in Assam as parties gear up for the impending assembly elections, with the Congress facing a significant challenge to retain its base and cohesion.