GUWAHATI: Assam’s ruling Congress MLA and former Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, formally joined the BJP on Friday.
Given the indications, at least a dozen of his close confidants — all Congress MLAs — are likely to follow in his footsteps in the coming days. The developments will surely add to the miseries of the ruling party, which lost its ground significantly in the State in the wake of BJP’s emergence as a powerhouse.
Sarma, who was once the most trusted lieutenant of Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, earlier made an abortive bid to unseat him. It was on Sunday that Sarma had made public his decision to wear the saffron colour, following a meeting with BJP national president Amit Shah in New Delhi. On Friday, he said his decision to join the BJP was not sudden. “Some people may think I joined the BJP as I had a fight with the Chief Minister. But let me assert that it was not a decision taken in haste. I have a dream to fulfil. I dream about making Assam one of the five most advanced states in the country. I haven’t joined the BJP for any post,” Sarma said.
Meanwhile, to the Congress, it was a ‘good riddance’ day. Congress workers were seen celebrating Sarma’s departure from the party.