Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday said Bhupen Bora’s resignation from the Congress party was a “separation” of the party from the Hindu community, describing the former Congress leader as the last recognized Hindu leader within the Congress party in the state.
While addressing the media, the Assam Chief Minister said: “Bhupen Bora was the last recognized Hindu leader in the Congress party. Apart from him, if you ask about Debabrata Saikia, he is Hiteshwar Saikia’s son; Gaurav Gogoi is Tarun Gogoi’s son; and Pradyut Bordoloi himself won from the minority seat. Bhupen Bora was the last legitimate Hindu face in the Congress party. His resignation was, in a way, like Congress separating itself from the Hindu community.”
Sarma’s comments come amid the announcement that the former Assam Congress president is set to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on February 22. This major shift comes just a day after Borah tendered his resignation from Congress, marking a pivotal development in the build-up to the state assembly elections.
Bora had tendered his resignation on February 16, expressing dissatisfaction with the party’s internal decision-making process, especially regarding participation in the Majuli Yatra.
Addressing a press conference alongside Bora, Sarma said Assam BJP president Dilip Saikia will work out the details of the accession, which has been approved by the party’s national president Nitin Nabin.
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“Bhupen Bora will join the BJP on February 22. Dilip Saikia will work out the details. A large number of Congress leaders will join the BJP with him in Guwahati and North Lakhimpur. He is the last recognized Hindu leader in the Congress. Our national president Nitin Nabin has already approved and welcomes his joining,” he said.
“Bhupen Bora will get all the respect and dignity. Joining the BJP will be like a homecoming for him because it is a party that includes many people like him, whose fathers did not hold any high offices,” he added.
Showing the strength of the BJP, Assam CM Sarma said: “Bhupen Bora’s accession will create a complete image, which is also a fact, that the Congress is no longer a party of the mainstream Assamese people.”
