Senior Lok Sabha MP Pradyut Bordoloi on Wednesday joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), triggering a major political storm in Assam just weeks ahead of the Assembly elections.
His switch comes days after he resigned from the Congress party, dealing a significant setback to the opposition at a crucial time.
Bordoloi Joins BJP in Presence of Top Leaders
Bordoloi formally joined the BJP in the presence of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and state BJP president Dilip Saikia.
Welcoming him, Sarma said Bordoloi’s long association with Congress since 1975 makes his entry politically important. He added that the party may recommend his name for contesting the upcoming Assembly elections.
“I Was Humiliated”: Bordoloi Explains Exit
Explaining his decision, Bordoloi said he felt disrespected within the Congress for a long time.
“There is no one reason. I was feeling suffocated, and I was being humiliated,” he said.
He revealed that during a March 13 meeting, Congress leader Imran Masood dismissed his claims regarding a candidate’s alleged criminal links as “false and fabricated.”
Bordoloi said the silence of Assam Congress chief Gaurav Gogoi during the incident hurt him deeply.
Self-Respect Over Position
The veteran leader made it clear that his decision was not driven by electoral ambitions.
“For me, getting a ticket was not a question of life and death. What mattered was to hold my head high,” he said.
He added that he could have continued as an MP but chose to leave instead of tolerating repeated humiliation.
Congress Calls It ‘Internal Matter’
Reacting to the development, AICC Assam in-charge Jitendra Singh and Gaurav Gogoi termed the issue as “differences within the family.”
They also suggested that the situation was being politically amplified and denied any major crisis within the party.
Resignation Letter to Kharge
In his brief resignation letter to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Bordoloi said he was stepping down with an “overwhelming sense of sadness.”
He resigned from all posts, privileges, and primary membership of the party.
Family Angle Adds Twist
Adding a personal layer to the political development, Bordoloi’s son Prateek remains a Congress candidate from the Margherita constituency for the Assembly elections scheduled on April 9.
This creates an unusual situation where father and son may be seen on opposing political sides.
Big Political Impact Ahead of Polls
Bordoloi’s entry into the BJP is expected to strengthen the party’s position in Assam, especially in key constituencies like Nagaon and nearby regions.
With elections around the corner, this high-profile defection could influence voter sentiment and trigger more political shifts in the state.
Assam politics is now set for an intense battle as parties gear up for a high-stakes electoral showdown.
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