In a further boost to the ruling NDA ahead of the Assam Legislative Assembly elections, three sitting Congress MLAs were formally inducted to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the party headquarters in Guwahati on Thursday. Congress leaders Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha of the Karimganj North Assembly constituency, Sashikanta Das of the Raha constituency, and Basanta Das of the Mangaldoi (SC) constituency joined the BJP at the induction ceremony in the presence of state BJP president Dilip Saikia and senior party leaders.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had on Wednesday informed mediapersons that the three legislators would formally be inducted into the ruling party on Thursday morning. Speaking to the media, Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha stated that the timing of their induction was strategically decided by the chief minister, particularly in view of the Rajya Sabha elections and related political considerations.
He affirmed his commitment to work “as a soldier of the BJP” for the party’s organizational and electoral objectives. Notably, former Assam PCC chief and veteran Congress leader Bhupen Kumar Borah had recently joined the BJP after serving the Opposition party for over three decades.
The back-to-back defections are expected to further consolidate the BJP’s legislative strength in Assam while deepening the internal crisis within the Congress ahead of crucial electoral contests. More exits from the principal opposition party are anticipated, signaling deepening turmoil within the state Congress ranks ahead of key political contests.
