Three suspended Congress MLAs, Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha, Basant Das, and Sashi Kanta Das, join BJP in Guwahati ahead of the Assam Assembly elections, citing development and party ideology as reasons for defection.
Guwahati: In a significant political development ahead of the Assam Legislative Assembly elections, three suspended legislators of the Indian National Congress, Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha, Basant Das, and Sashi Kanta Das officially joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the party’s state headquarters, Atal Bihari Vajpayee Bhawan, in the presence of state BJP president Dilip Saikia.
Speaking after the induction, Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha said the decision was motivated by a desire to contribute to the “security and development of Assam and India.” He criticised the Congress, alleging that its politics of appeasement had weakened the party and warned that without ideological changes, it could become “hollow.”
Basant Das cited the development work under Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma as a key factor in his decision. Highlighting progress in his constituency, he said joining the BJP would allow him to further the state’s growth. Sashi Kanta Das echoed similar sentiments, praising Sarma’s efforts to unite the people of Assam. Das also noted that the Congress had drifted from its founding principles and suggested the party might struggle to even qualify as a strong opposition in the upcoming elections.
Meanwhile, Union Minister of State Pabitra Margherita said the BJP’s growing appeal had encouraged leaders and workers from other parties, especially the Congress, to join its ranks. He criticised the Congress candidate list for lacking “freshness” and including several previously rejected candidates.
The defection of these three sitting MLAs, alongside the recent joining of former Assam Congress chief Bhupen Kumar Borah, is expected to intensify competition as parties consolidate ahead of the Assembly elections.
Also Read: Assam Honours Saraighat Heroes With Grand War Memorial in Guwahati
