HT Bureau
DIPHU, Oct 18: A total of 192 workers and supporters from various parties joined the Congress in a mass joining program organised at the Karbi Anglong District Congress Committee (KADCC) office here on Friday.
Most of the new members came from the BJP and the All Party Hills Leaders Conference (APHLC) from the Bokajan, Borjan, and Lumbajong Member of Autonomous Council constituencies.
The 192 new joiners were welcomed by KADCC president Bidyasing Rongpi, vice presidents Ratul Teron, Ashok Teron, Pradip Singnar, and several other party leaders. Each new member received a party scarf as a symbol of acceptance into the party.
Under the leadership of Protap Sing Rongphar and Kangbura Timung, a former leader of the Karbi Students Association (KSA) from the Bokajan regional committee, 161 workers and supporters from the BJP in Bokajan joined Congress.
Rongphar stated, “I joined Congress from BJP today. The ideology and principles of the BJP do not suit us, so I left the party.” He criticized the BJP government for leaving the people with nothing, benefiting only a few leaders.
“As a student leader, I have been involved in student activities. After leaving the KSA to engage in politics, I chose Congress over other parties,” Timung added, expressing that Congress is more liberal and people-centric.
Criticising the BJP, KADCC president Rongpi noted that people are increasingly distancing themselves from the party. He claimed that corruption in both the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council and the state has reached unprecedented levels.
“In the last 10 years of BJP rule, aside from the Aronudhoi Scheme, which provides just Rs 1200 per month to women, no productive schemes have been launched,” he added.
“People had high hopes when the BJP came to power, but they have only witnessed misery and frustration. The BJP government has hindered people’s ability to earn a living. Contractors are left unpaid for their work, leading many into debt. The purchasing power of the people has diminished, benefiting only a handful of BJP leaders,” Rongpi concluded.