A former commander of the banned militant outfit ULFA (Independent), a senior lawyer and several key political figures from Assam crossed over to the Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday, bolstering the state unit of the ruling party ahead of its grassroots push.
At a formal induction ceremony held at the BJP headquarters in Guwahati, state party president Dilip Saikia welcomed the new entrants in the presence of Assam BJP in-charge Harish Dwivedi and organisational general secretary GR Ravindra Raju.
The most prominent among those inducted was Dristi Rajkhowa, also known as Manoj Rabha, who once served as the self-styled deputy commander of ULFA (I) and was known for his explosives expertise. Rajkhowa had surrendered in 2020 after a long stint in the insurgent ranks and had operated closely with ULFA (I) chief Paresh Barua.
“I had always placed my land before my life. I sacrificed once for my people, and I am ready to do so again,” Rajkhowa told reporters. “The state still faces serious threats from various quarters, and I believe the BJP is the most effective platform today to address these challenges.”
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The BJP’s new political allies also include former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) state president Manoj Dhanowar, senior advocate Manas Sarania, Assam Gorkha Sammelan vice-president Arjun Chettri (also a former president of the All Assam Gorkha Students' Union), Nirmal Payeng, former general secretary of Raijor Dal’s youth wing, and Amal Patowary, one-time central committee secretary of the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP).
Welcoming them into the fold, state BJP chief Saikia said, “The BJP is not just a political party, it’s a family. Anyone committed to the service of Maa Bharati and the development of our nation is welcome. We believe in inclusive politics, and our aim is to make India a Vishwaguru.”
He further assured that the party remained committed to safeguarding the interests of Assam’s indigenous people and would continue working for lasting peace and sustained development.
The expansion comes at a time when the BJP is reinforcing its organisational apparatus in Assam and preparing for local body elections ahead.
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