Several BJP MLAs want to join Congress in Assam: MP Pradyut Bordoloi

Congress MP Pradyut Bordoloi on Saturday claimed that several sitting BJP MLAs from Assam have approached him and other senior leaders for joining the grand old party, which will take a final call on the matter during its upcoming political affairs meeting.

Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma tried to downplay it saying that "coming and going happen in politics", and there will be "no one" left in Congress before the assembly elections in 2026.

Addressing a press conference, Bordoloi, however, said the party is averse to inducting a few BJP leaders, who had indulged in hurling abuses at the Congress in the past.

"Many MLAs have contacted our party and some have reached out to me. They want to join the Congress. Our party will take a final call and discussions are going on at present," said Bordoloi, a former Assam minister.

The two consecutive term Lok Sabha MP also claimed that the "inside story" of the BJP is not as rosy as the ruling party tries to project.

"A constant clash is going on between old and new BJP members. The influence and functioning style of the 'dada brigade' (followers of CM Himanta Biswa Sarma) is not appreciated by many old timers in the party," Bordoloi said.

The senior leader stressed that the issue of BJP leaders joining the Congress will be discussed during the upcoming political affairs meeting of the party, scheduled to take place from July 15 to 17.

Asked if the Congress is ready to accept all the BJP leaders who wish to join it, Bordoloi said, "Why will we take all of them? There are some leaders who always abuse us. Why should we take them?"

He, however, did not name any BJP leaders who have contacted him or other party colleagues and expressed willingness to join the grand old party.

In the last few days, speculations have been rife in political corridors that a former BJP central cabinet minister, several sitting MLAs, mostly from Upper Assam constituencies, and a few former MLAs are in talks with the Congress leaders to join the opposition party with thousands of their followers.

Bordoloi's former colleague in Tarun Gogoi's cabinet and present CM Himanta Biswa Sarma told reporters, "When dozens of leaders came to our party from Congress, then you (media) did not discuss it. The discussion should be equal."

In the recently held Lok Sabha elections for 14 seats in Assam, the BJP retained its nine MPs, while its allies AGP and UPPL bagged one each. In the opposition camp, Congress also retained its three MPs.