Guwahati, 22 February (HS): In a significant political development in Assam, former president of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee, Bhupen Bora, formally joined the Bharatiya Janata Party on Sunday. Bora switched allegiance in the presence of Assam BJP president and MP Dilip Saikia along with several state-level leaders.

Bora was welcomed at the BJP state headquarters, Atal Bihari Vajpayee Bhawan, by Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah, MP Pradan Baruah and other senior party leaders. Addressing the media before formally joining the BJP, Bora drew a parallel with Karna’s position before the Mahabharata war, stating that the condition of “glorious Assamese” in the Congress was similar. He remarked that he would play a decisive role from Rajiv Bhawan to Vajpayee Bhawan, comparing it to the battlefield of Saraighat. Bora also said that during his time in the Congress, his “attire was stained with blood” due to political struggles with the BJP, adding that he wore the same attire to the BJP office with the belief that the party would value those sacrifices.

Notably, Bora had indicated on social media a day earlier that the decision to join the BJP was not easy but was taken with a firm resolve to serve the people.

Bora began his political career as president of the Assam Pradesh Youth Congress. He was elected to the Assam Legislative Assembly from Bihpuria in 2006 and was re-elected in 2011. During the tenure of former Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, he served as spokesperson of the Assam government and Parliamentary Secretary. In 2013, he was appointed secretary of the All India Congress Committee and later became president of the APCC in 2021.

Bora’s move is seen as a setback for the Congress ahead of the Assembly elections. While the party has maintained that his exit will not impact its prospects, political observers believe the development could further weaken the already struggling Congress in the state. Bora claimed that once the Congress announces its candidates, several senior leaders are likely to join the BJP.

On the occasion, Dr. Sanju Baruah and several other senior Congress leaders also joined the BJP.------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash