Heavyweight Assam Cong leader joins BJP

Former Assam education minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday met BJP president Amit Shah in New Delhi and discussed what the former claimed as “formalities” before formally joining the saffron party.

The dissident leader’s move came just a day after the ruling party of the state celebrated the victory in the Tiwa Autonomous Council election. Sharma joining the BJP will certainly boost the latter ahead of the Assembly election due next year, thanks to his strong support base.

In a two-hour long close-door meeting, Assam BJP chief Siddhartha Bhattacharjee and senior BJP leaders Ram Lal and Ram Madhav were also present.

“Today, I met the BJP leadership including the national president Amit Shah. We discussed about the modalities of my joining the party. I will reach Guwahati in a day or two and give details of why I took this decision. I am not resigning as a MLA. Others might also follow me,” Sarma told reporter at Delhi.

The state Congress leadership did not hide its surprise. State Congress president Anjan Dutta told Deccan Herald that although they did not receive any resignation letter or any communication, they were shocked and surprised for Sharma had campaigned in the council election where the party won.