GUWAHATI, Dec 18 - A number of sitting legislators from the principal opposition Congress are likely to cross over to the BJP in the coming days, the ruling party said on Friday. �I can confirm that Congress MLA from Golaghat Ajanta Neog will join our party soon. In addition, some other Congress legislators are also in touch with us and have shown interest in joining our party,� a senior BJP leader said.
It is noteworthy that on Thursday evening, Ajanta Neog had a closed-door meeting with Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal at his official residence. Finance Minister and NEDA convener Himanta Biswa Sarma was also present at the meeting. Speculation was rife since the last few months about Neog crossing over to the BJP. The BJP source said that Neog is expected to formally join the saffron party during the Assam visit of Union Home Minister Amit Shah on December 26. �In addition, Congress MLA from Sarupathar constituency Roselina Tirkey, Lakhipur MLA Rajdeep Goala (who was expelled from the Congress in October) and some other sitting legislators of the principal opposition party are also in touch with us. The final decision regarding their induction will be taken by our senior leadership,� the BJP source added.
On being contacted, State BJP chief spokesperson Rupam Goswami refused to either confirm or deny the claim.
�I can only say that many people now want to join the BJP because they have confidence in Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, our national president JP Nadda, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, and our State unit chief Ranjeet Kumar Dass.
Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Ripun Bora said that Neog�s likely exit will not affect the party�s prospects. �We had never expected this. If she (Ajanta Neog) had been with the Congress on the basis of principle and ideology, then she would not have acted this way. This shows that she was in Congress only for personal benefits. We gave her all respect. Her husband (former State Minister Nagen Neog) sacrificed his life for the party. If she really joins the BJP, then she will be insulting the ultimate sacrifice made by her husband,� Bora said.
He added that the Congress made Ajanta Neog an MLA and gave her important portfolios to handle during the party�s time in power.
