BREAKING: Bhupen Borah to Join BJP on Feb 22, Says Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma

GUWAHATI: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday announced that former Congress leader Bhupen Borah will officially join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on February 22 in Guwahati.

Sarma made the announcement after a one hour and 25-minute meeting at Borah’s residence in Guwahati. Addressing the media, the Chief Minister said he was happy to meet his former colleague after a long time and clarified that the meeting was largely informal.

“After many days, I met my former colleague Bhupen Borah today. I am happy to inform you that Bhupen Borah will officially join the BJP on February 22,” Sarma said.
“Today, we did not discuss politics. We just had an informal conversation with my old colleague,” he added.

He further said that the official schedule of Borah’s joining programme will be announced by BJP Assam state president Dilip Saikia.

“The joining programme schedule will be announced by BJP state president Dilip Saikia,” Sarma said.

The Chief Minister confirmed that Borah’s close aides and several Congress workers from Lakhimpur district will also join the BJP on the same day. He said another joining programme will be organised in Lakhimpur, where Congress workers from Ranganadi, Bihpuria, Naoboicha and surrounding areas will formally join the party.

Sarma said political discussions during the meeting were limited but indicated that further talks would take place soon.

“Today we did not discuss much about politics. Tomorrow I will sit with him again and discuss the political developments,” he said.

Recalling their long political association, Sarma said he and Borah had worked together in the Congress for over two decades and had joined the party together.

“We worked together in the Congress for 22 years and joined the party together. I left the party and now he too has left. His joining will strengthen the BJP,” he said.

He described Borah as the last recognised Hindu leader in the Congress party who had resigned and said the BJP leadership had already approved his joining.

“Our national president J.P. Nadda has already approved his joining. Bhupen Borah will be given all the respect and dignity. Joining the BJP will be like a homecoming for him, as this party is for the people and has no nepotism background,” Sarma said.

Sarma claimed that Borah’s exit from Congress would send a strong political message in Assam.

“His joining in the BJP will send a message that the Congress is no longer the party of the Assamese mainstream people,” he said.

The Chief Minister said Borah had serious grievances with the Congress and did not receive what he deserved in the party.

“Bhupen Borah worked seriously for the Congress. He was angry with the party. He did not get what he deserved. After working for 30 to 34 years, nobody resigns without a valid reason,” Sarma said, adding that he had spoken to Borah late on Monday night.

Criticising Congress leaders who visited Borah after his resignation, Sarma said they failed to address the real issues.

“The leaders acted immaturely. They thought Rahul Gandhi would call and change his decision. Life is not like that. A person who resigns after working so hard for 30 years must have serious reasons, but the leaders failed to address them,” he said.

Sarma also made political remarks on opposition unity, claiming it would not significantly impact the BJP.

“Opposition unity will not make much difference in many seats. In BJP seats, it will not affect us. BJP will win again,” he said.

He also predicted future political developments, saying Congress leaders Pradyut Bordoloi and Debabrata Saikia would re-emerge around the 2029 and 2026 elections respectively, while Gaurav Gogoi was preparing for the 2031 political landscape.

Sarma said NDA seat-sharing arrangements were almost finalised and claimed that in the 2031 elections, BJP would face Raijor Dal as its main rival instead of Congress. He also announced that Orunodoi financial assistance would be disbursed on March 10 instead of February 20, with the amount increased from Rs 8,000 to Rs 9,000.

He further spoke about Borah’s political base, saying Borah had worked extensively for the people of Bihpuria and that his politics was rooted within the Assamese community. Sarma added that Borah could contest from Jalukbari in the future and would be given a suitable seat, stressing that Borah was not a BJP agent and that he had personally shared Congress-related information with Borah in the past.

Meanwhile, Bhupen Borah’s wife welcomed the Chief Minister’s visit and recalled their long association.

“I feel very happy that the Chief Minister visited our house today. When I was admitted to Cotton College, he was contesting elections from the Cotton College constituency. His brother was my classmate, and during his campaign we met. When we stayed in Dispur quarters, we were neighbours and our children played together. Though there was a long gap, I am happy he came today,” she said.

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