After being denied the party ticket for next month’s Assembly elections, Assam BJP minister Nandita Gorlosa joined the Congress late on Sunday night and will contest as a candidate from the Haflong (ST) constituency.
The Congress had appointed Nirmal Langthasa as its candidate for Haflong in its fifth list released on Sunday. After Gorlosa’s appointment, the party leadership replaced Langthasa and sent her instead.
Gorlosa joined the Congress in the presence of party leaders, including Assam Pradesh Congress Committee general secretary Nirmal Langthasa.
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“We are very happy to announce that Nandita Gorlosa has joined the Congress party… The Congress will announce her as our candidate for the Haflong seat tomorrow,” the Congress said in a statement.
“Gorlosa is scheduled to contest the election on the Congress ticket from the Haflong seat, as Sheikh Langthasa has proactively volunteered to vacate his seat there in the larger public interest. The formalities for the same will be duly finalized soon,” he added.
The switch happened before Monday’s nomination filing deadline. Voting for the single-stage National Assembly elections for all 126 seats is scheduled for April 9.
A sitting MLA from Haflong, she was denied a ticket by the BJP, which fielded Rupali Langthasa from the seat after dropping several sitting legislators.
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She reacted soon after the BJP announced its list of candidates on March 19. She has been approached by senior leaders, including Prime Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
Sarma visited Dima Hasao on Sunday before traveling to Silchar to meet party leaders. BJP leaders in Haflong said Gorlosa did not attend meetings during the visit.
Speaking to reporters in Guwahati late on Sunday night, Sarma initially said that only a few leaders had left the party and that Gorlosa had not quit the BJP. He later revised his statement after learning of her move.
“I spoke to her and she seemed satisfied. The Congress had already announced its candidate from Haflong. I don’t know why she joined this party,” he said.
Gorlosa was elected in 2021 and appointed to the state government. It dealt with mines, minerals, and tribal religious wallets.
In Barak Valley, the BJP dropped three candidates from its list of candidates. One of them, Nihar Ranjan Das, resigned from the party but later said he would not contest independently after meeting the prime minister.
Amar Chand Jain, another former BJP MLA, joined the Congress and was selected as its candidate from Katigora.
In Katigurah, the BJP fielded former Congress MLA Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha. The Prime Minister said he was confident of winning.
