3 BJP MLAs may switch sides, join Congress in Assam

When at least 10 MLAs — nine from the Congress and one from regional Asom Gana Parishad — are set to join the BJP in the next few days, the ruling Congress may also succeed in roping in at least three BJP legislators into its fold in Assam.

Informing that three veteran BJP MLAs — Prashant Phukan, Jadav Deka and Manoranjan Das — are alleged to have been in touch with the ruling Congress, sources in the BJP said that growing uncertainty over getting re-nomination for the 2016 Assembly elections has forced these legislators to explore the option in the Congress.

Informing that Mr Das, who represents Pathacharkuchi Assembly segment, started hobnobbing with the ruling party soon after AJYCP leader Manoj Baruah was inducted in the BJP, sources said that Mr Baruah joined the BJP on assurance of nomination from Pathacharkuchi Assembly segment. Mr Phukan, who got elected for two consecutive terms from Dibrugarh, was also in thick of a major controversy of cross-voting in the Rajya Sabha elections. Mr Deka is also accused to have strained his relationship with the state party leaders. The BJP is said to have been looking for a new candidate from his Kamalpur Assembly segment. Though, these legislators refused to confirm it, sources close to them said that they may soon join the Congress after nine dissident Congress MLAs join the BJP.

Meanwhile, the idea of Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi to form an anti-BJP alliance received a major jolt on Thursday with two important constituent of the proposed grand alliance — the AIUDF and the AGP — ruled out the possibility of any alliance with the Congress.

AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal said, “Our stand is very clear. We are anti-BJP and anti-Congress. We will continue to maintain equal distance from the ruling Congress as well as the BJP. The AIUDF is keen on an alliance with ideologically similar parties like the AGP, CPI, CPI(M), NCP, Gana Mukti Sangram and the new tribal front led by Hagrama Mohilary.”