Former Assam Congress President Bhupen Borah Defects to BJP, Appointed State Executive Member
In a significant political development in Assam, former state Congress president Bhupen Kumar Borah officially joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday. The induction ceremony took place at the party's state headquarters, Vajpayee Bhawan in Guwahati, marking a notable shift in the regional political landscape.
High-Profile Induction Following Meeting with Amit Shah
Borah's move to the BJP came just one day after he held a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah. His induction received formal approval from BJP national President Nitin Nabin, underscoring the strategic importance of this defection. Immediately after joining, the BJP appointed Borah as a state executive member in the party's state committee, signaling his immediate integration into the party structure.
Borah's Reasons for Leaving Congress and Political Ambitions
In his resignation submitted last week to the All India Congress Committee (AICC) leadership and party chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Borah expressed feeling "ignored" within the Congress. He specifically accused Dhubri MP Rakibul Hussain of taking control of the party in Assam and voiced dissatisfaction that the Congress leadership did not grant him a free hand in handling opposition alliance discussions and seat-sharing arrangements.
Borah, whom Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma described as the "last Hindu leader" in the Assam Congress, stated that he quit the Congress and "Duryodhan" to work for the country and the Assamese community. He is now being viewed as a potential BJP candidate from his home constituency, Bihpuria, in Lakhimpur district. Chief Minister Sarma indicated that Borah would be given a ticket from a "favourable seat" to enhance his chances in the upcoming assembly polls.
Ceremony Highlights and Symbolic Statements
Speaking at Vajpayee Bhawan in the presence of Assam Pradesh BJP president Dilip Saikia, Borah reflected on his 32-year tenure in Congress. "With a motive to serve the country, I worked in Congress for 32 years. For me, the interest of the country, my land and its people, is far above personal interest and the party's interest. I started my political career with this teaching and will continue to keep it in mind," he declared.
Borah praised CM Sarma as the most influential leader in the northeast and stated that he joined the BJP to support him. In a symbolic gesture, Borah likened dissatisfied Congress workers with self-respect to Karn from the Mahabharata, urging them to join the Pandavas (BJP) before the political battle. "I will act as Saraighat bridge for those Karns of Rajiv Bhawan to come to Vajpayee Bhawan," he asserted, referencing historical and mythological parallels.
Welcoming Remarks from BJP Leadership
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma welcomed Borah, stating that he was beginning a new political phase aligned with BJP's ideology and culture. "BJP family will be with him (Borah) and he will get due respect and affection in BJP," Sarma said, while also acknowledging Borah's contributions during his time in the Congress.
Dilip Saikia emphasized that Borah's entry would strengthen the party, adding, "Borah's organisational expertise and extensive experience would play a vital role in further consolidating the party's structural foundation."
Broader Defection and Event Attendance
Borah was not alone in his defection; he joined the BJP alongside former APCC general secretary Sanju Baruah. The event saw attendance from several high-profile BJP leaders, including:
- BJP national vice-president and assembly election in-charge Baijayant Jay Panda
- State in-charge Harish Dwivedi
- State organisational general secretary GR Ravindra Raju
- Convenor of assembly election management committee and MP Pradan Baruah
- Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah
Additionally, the program included the induction of other notable figures:
- Former deputy chief executive member of the Deori Autonomous Council Swarganarayan Deori
- Former Lakhimpur district Congress president Gagan Chandra Bora
- Filmmaker and national award winner Maniram Singha
- Several other Congress leaders at the state and district levels
- Around 500 Congress workers
Post-Event Social Media Statement
Following the ceremony, Borah took to social media platform X to share his thoughts. He posted, "After reflection, I joined the BJP with renewed purpose. Assam's legacy deserves development with dignity and inclusion. I step forward with humility and resolve to serve the state and the people." This statement reinforces his commitment to his new political path and his focus on Assam's development.
This mass defection represents a significant consolidation of BJP's position in Assam ahead of the assembly elections, potentially weakening the Congress's organizational strength in the state.
