Guwahati: Former Assam Congress president Bhupen Kumar Borah on Sunday joined the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the presence of state unit chief Dilip Saikia.
Borah formally enrolled as a BJP member during a programme held at the party’s state headquarters, Vajpayee Bhawan, in Guwahati. Former Congress worker Sanju Bora also joined the saffron party at the event.
Borah had tendered his resignation from the Congress on February 16. The party high command did not immediately accept it, and senior leaders rushed to his residence in an attempt to persuade him to reconsider. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had also spoken to him over the phone.
While Borah initially sought time to review his decision, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma visited his residence the following day and publicly announced that Borah would join the BJP on February 22.
The development comes ahead of the upcoming elections to the 126-member Assam Legislative Assembly, which are expected to be held in March–April. Borah’s switch is seen as a significant political move in the run-up to the polls, potentially impacting the Congress party’s organisational strength in the state.
