Bhupen Borah joins BJP days after quitting Congress ahead of Assam elections

NEW DELHI: Former Assam Congress president Bhupen Borah on Sunday joined the BJP, days after stepping down from the Congress ahead of the upcoming assembly elections in the state.Former Congress worker Sanju Bora also switched sides and entered the saffron party along with him. Borah had resigned earlier this week, but the Congress high command had not accepted his resignation. Senior party leaders visited his residence to persuade him to reconsider, and Rahul Gandhi also spoke to him. Borah had sought time to review his decision, but a day later Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma visited his home and announced that he would formally join the BJP on February 22.After meeting Union home minister Amit Shah, Borah wrote in a post, “32 years vs 32 hours — the difference is visible.”Reacting to the development, Assam PCC president Gaurav Gogoi asserted that Borah’s exit would not dent the party’s prospects. “Congress is like an ocean; we are all just water drops in it. Congress was there long before our fathers and forefathers existed. Bhupen Borah’s leaving will not impact our party’s prospects in the assembly polls,” he said.Assam is set to hold assembly elections later this year, with the BJP, led by chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, aiming to retain power while facing a renewed challenge from the Congress.