In a significant political development in Assam, three suspended Congress MLAs—Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha, Basanta Das, and Sashi Kanta Das—officially joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday, March 5, 2026. The ceremony took place at the State BJP headquarters in Guwahati in the presence of State party president Dilip Saikia. This move comes just ahead of the upcoming Assam Legislative Assembly elections and marks another setback for the Congress, which has been facing repeated defections and internal challenges. Observers note that these shifts could significantly impact the political dynamics in several key constituencies.
Political Implications and BJP Response
Union Minister of State Pabitra Margherita commented on the ongoing trend, saying that leaders and functionaries from other parties, especially the Congress, are increasingly joining the BJP. “They are showing their support for our ideology,” he told ANI. Margherita further criticized the Congress candidate list for the upcoming elections, calling it devoid of “freshness.” He noted that nearly 20 of the 42 candidates had been repeatedly rejected by voters in previous elections, suggesting that the Congress is relying on familiar faces rather than presenting new leadership to the electorate.
Critique of Congress Candidate List
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also slammed the Congress’ announced list of candidates, describing it as a “dynastic list” while emphasizing the BJP’s focus on grassroots workers. Speaking to reporters on March 4, 2026, CM Sarma said, “One may call it a list, but I would call it a dynastic list. In contrast, the BJP’s list will include dedicated grassroots workers. The party is fully prepared for the upcoming elections.” Sarma’s comments highlighted the BJP’s strategy of projecting local leadership and community-based candidates as a key differentiator in the electoral battle.
Overview of Congress Candidates and Electoral Stakes
The Assam Congress candidate list includes prominent names such as Gaurav Gogoi (Jorhat), Bitupan Saikia (Golaghat), Abdus Sobahan Ali Sarkar (Gauripur), Markline Marak (Goalpara West ST), Girish Baruah (Bongaigaon), Mahananda Sarkar (Barpeta SC), and Ramen Singh Rabha (Boko-Chaygaon ST). Other notable candidates are Satyabrat Kalita (Kamalpur), Ripun Bora (Barchalla), Mira Borthakur Goswami (Dispur), Diganta Barman (Barkhetri), Uptal Gogoi (Sonari), Ajoy Kumar Gogoi (Demow), Debabrata Saikia (Nazira), and Ashok Kumar Sarma (Nalbari). Several women leaders have also been fielded, including Nandita Das (Hajo-Sualkuchi SC), Pallabi Saikia Gogoi (Teok), and Suruchi Roy (Ram Krishana Nagar SC). The BJP-led NDA is looking to retain power in Assam after two consecutive election victories against the Congress-led alliance, making these defections and criticisms particularly significant in shaping voter perception and campaign strategies.
