Nine Congress legislators join BJP

BY Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, Nov 6: Nine Congress legislators on Friday joined the BJP in a simple function organized at the State party headquarters here.

BJP general secretary Ram Madhav, State observer Mahendra Singh, Northeast organizing secretary Ajay Jamwal  and State unit president Siddhartha Bhattacharya welcomed the legislators - Jayanta Malla Baruah, Pijush Hazarika, Rajen Borthakur, Pallab Lochan Das, Abu Taher Bepari, Binda Saikia, Bolin Chetia, Pradan Baruah and Kripa th Malla.

Known to be loyalists of former Health and Education minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, the nine MLAs had met BJP president Amit Shah in New Delhi on September 5 along with Sarma.

"Assam's political situation is changing very fast. The Congress is responsible for the present critical situation of Assam. People are being attracted to the BJP," Ram Madhav said.

He said whoever has "development at heart" and yearns for "achee din" will join the BJP.

"The Assam chief minister knows that he losing ground. So he is desperate to forge an alliance with other parties, even the Left. On one hand he calls the BJP commul, and on the other he is embracing the AIUDF," said the BJP leader, adding that the new entrants will help the party win the next assembly elections.

Ram Madhav said the nine legislators will be given "due status" and their services "utilized properly."

Welcoming the legislators, State BJP president Siddhartha Bhattacharya said the people will soon realize that the Congress MLAs have taken the right decision (to join the BJP).

MPs Ramen Deka, Bijoya Chakraborty, RP Sharma, MLAs Prashanta Phukan and Dilip Moran were present at today's function besides other functiories.

In gaon district, Himanta Biswa Sarma said about 80 percent of the Congress leaders in Assam will join the BJP in Assam by December-January.

"I think by December-January, 80 percent of the Congressmen will join the BJP. People want a change and so members from the Congress, the AGP, the Left and from all other parties will join the BJP," Sarma said.