Guwahati, 29th February: Former Congress leader Rana Goswami officially joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in a joining function held at Vajpayee Bhawan in Guwahati on February 29. The event witnessed the presence of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and BJP State President Bhabesh Kalita.
Goswami’s decision to join the BJP came after he tendered his resignation from the Congress party on February 28 and traveled to New Delhi. In his resignation letter addressed to KC Venugopal, General Secretary (organisation) of Congress, Goswami cited his departure from the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee and the Indian National Congress.
Assam BJP President Bhabesh Kalita convened a high-level meeting in New Delhi, where discussions between Goswami and key BJP leaders, including Kalita, Assam General Secretary (organisation) GR Ravindra Raju, and Assam Co-Incharge Pawan Sharma, were held.
Responding to speculations surrounding Goswami’s switch to the BJP, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed his willingness to welcome the influential Congress leader into the BJP fold, citing his powerful presence within the Congress party.
Rana Goswami, a significant figure in Assam politics, previously served as the Member of Parliament from the Jorhat constituency in Assam.
In response to Goswami’s resignation, Assam Leader of Opposition Debabrata Saikia expressed disappointment, stating that Goswami had been given numerous responsibilities and positions within the Congress party. Saikia urged Goswami to clarify the reasons behind his departure, emphasizing that resigning without explanation amounts to betrayal.
When questioned about the trend of Congress leaders joining the BJP ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, Saikia attributed it to fear of legal agencies such as the Enforcement Directorate and the Central Bureau of Investigation. He suggested that some individuals seek personal benefits or protection from legal issues by aligning with the ruling party at the Centre.
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