Assam artistes Babu Baruah, Nekibul & Ajoy Phukan join Congress ahead of polls

Apart from Babu Baruah, Nekibul Hussain (famous for the smash hit 'Taxi Gari'), and music director Ajoy Phukan joined the Congress party at an event

Guwahati: The Indian National Congress (INC) today bolstered its ranks with the joining of several notable artistes, including the 'Pedal Maari Maari' crooner Babu Baruah.

Apart from Babu Baruah, Nekibul Hussain (famous for the smash hit 'Taxi Gari'), and music director Ajoy Phukan joined the Congress party at an event held in Guwahati.

"I am happy. I am hopeful that people will take me forward in this journey as I wish to be the voice of the people", Babu told The Sentinel Digital after joining the Grand Old Party.

Immediately after joining the Congress, Babu Baruah launched into his seminal hit 'Pedal Maari Maari' to raucous cheers from the Congress party members. However, this time around, Babu sang of cycling towards the Congress instead of using the two-wheeler to reach his lover's house.

At today's high profile induction ceremony, as many as 34 people joined the Congress fold amid ongoing talks to form a 'grand alliance' to thwart the BJP come polling time.

"Today, as many as 34 people joined the Congress in preparation for the polls. Most of the new joinees are artistes and musicians", APCC spokesperson Rituparna Konwar told The Sentinel Digital.

Notably, Babu Baruah and Ajoy Phukan had protested against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act which sparked protests all across Assam.

Earlier, while announcing his plans to join the Congress party formally, Babu had expressed his interest to contest the polls from the West Guwahati Constituency, which is his home constituency. He has also opined that the contentious CAA is one of the major reasons why he has joined the Congress camp.

"I had opposed the CAA with several parties. The Congress had also opposed the Act. The Congress had given me a proposition to join the party; perhaps they wish to float artistes who had opposed the CAA. I am thinking of joining on August 25", he had expressed. And true to his word, he joined the party today.