Team News Riveting
Guwahati, August 1
Two-time Congress MLA Sushanta Borgohain on Friday resigned from the party; the second lawmaker from the party to quit in last three months.
Borgohain cited “changed internal political atmosphere” within the party for his decision. The rumour of his resignation was in circulation for last many days. He is likely to join the BJP.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said Borgohain would join the BJP on August 2 and claimed that he would be followed by 2-3 more MLAs of the opposition parties.
He is the second Congress MLA to quit in less than three months of the second BJP-led government returning to power in Assam. Four-time MLA Rupjyoti Kurmi, who was the lone MLA from the Tea Tribe community in the Congress, had resigned as a legislator on June 18. He joined the BJP on June 21.
Besides Borgohain, Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) General Secretary Barnali Saikia Bora, who was the OSD to former chief minister Tarun Gogoi, also resigned from the party.
With the resignation of Borgohain, the Congress’ strength in the 126-member House would come down to 27 while ruling BJP’s tally would go up to 59. The AIUDF has 16, AGP (9), UPPL (5), BPF (3), CPI(M) has one MLAs. There is one Independent MLA also. Two MLAs have died and two have resigned.
Besides Kurmi, former Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal had resigned. He was later inducted in the Union Cabinet.
