HT Correspondent
MARGHERITA, Feb 9: The Indian National Congress suffered a major organisational setback in the Margherita constituency on Monday as more than 200 of its leaders and workers joined the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, signalling a deepening crisis for the opposition at the grassroots level.
The mass defection took place in the 83rd Margherita Legislative Assembly Constituency in the presence of BJP MLA Bhaskar Sharma.
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The development underlined the BJP’s expanding footprint in Upper Assam, with several senior Congress functionaries among those switching allegiance.
The joining programme was hosted by Dr Buddh Prakash Upadhyay, with the welcome address delivered by Sukhdev Sharma, president of the Margherita BJP Town Mandal.
Senior BJP leaders present on the occasion included BJP Margherita election prabhari Sanjay Singh, BJP state executive member Bhim Karmakar, Simanta Madhav Katoky, Tara Prasad Dehingia, Disen Tipomia, Naba Dutta, Dheeraj Sonowal, Hari Nanda Gorh, along with party workers.
Prominent among the defectors were Rubul Gogoi, former secretary of the Congress OBC Morcha and president of the Margherita Block Congress Committee; Raju Hazarika, former executive president of the Jagun Mandal Congress Committee; Anjuma Ahmed, former state secretary of the Assam Mahila Congress Committee; and Dulumoni Buragohai, former Congress secretary, besides several other office-bearers and workers.
Speaking on the occasion, Anjuma Ahmed said she decided to leave the Congress after 20 years of association, citing dynasty politics and what she described as arrogant behaviour of senior party leaders.
BJP leaders described the defections as a vote of confidence in the ruling party’s governance and organisational strength, while terming the exodus as a reflection of growing disillusionment within the Congress ranks.
The latest wave of defections has added to the Congress’s woes in Margherita, where over the past few months more than 1,000 of its leaders and workers have joined the BJP.
Political observers view the development as a significant boost for the BJP as electoral activity gathers momentum in the region.
