Assam assembly elections: MP Pradyut Bordoloi quits Congress after 30 years, gets offer from Himanta Biswa Sarma to join BJP

GUWAHATI: Assam Congress MP Pradyut Bordoloi resigned from the party on Tuesday, ending his nearly three-decade-long association. Earlier in the day, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma publicly had invited Pradyut to join BJP.

In a brief three-line letter to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Bordoloi said he was quitting with an “overwhelming sense of sadness,” resigning from all posts and primary membership. On Monday, the latter had accused the party leadership of sidelining him and targeted Assam PCC chief Gaurav Gogoi.




Pradyut’s exit has triggered strong speculation that he may join BJP and is likely to be fielded from the high-profile Dispur constituency in the upcoming assembly elections.

Speaking to TOI, Bordoloi admitted BJP had reached out. “There has been an offer from BJP, from the top level. I tried to contact KC Venugopal and others but there was no response. So they probably have shut the door on me only because I raised certain issues. They haven’t reached out, maybe they are upset with me,” he said

Sarma said Bordoloi could still be accommodated in the assembly elections despite BJP’s candidate list being nearly finalized. “He should certainly join BJP. I invite him to join BJP, but thus far there has been no communication between him and me in this regard,” Sarma told reporters, adding, “There is no atmosphere in Congress where a Sanatani Hindu person can stay. Like we have given respect to Bhupen Borah, we will respect you (Bordoloi) as well.”

Borah, a two-time former MLA and ex-Congress president, had quit the party last month and formally joined BJP.

Sarma further said, “If he (Bordoloi) comes to BJP, certainly we will spare a seat somewhere so that he can contest in the assembly election,” adding, “Politics is built upon possibilities.”

Asked about his son Prateek Bordoloi, the Congress candidate from Margherita, Bordoloi categorically said, “My son is an adult. He grew up in the Congress culture since I first became an MLA when he was three. He has been working independently in Margherita for the last seven months. The party offered him the seat. I have made it clear that my decision should not influence his. He should take his own independent vision.”

Bordoloi was vocal against Gaurav for allegedly supporting Laharighat MLA Asif Nazar, whom Bordoloi blamed for orchestrating an attack on his convoy last year.