Guwahati: Assam Leader of the Opposition Debabrata Saikia on Tuesday dismissed speculation that he may join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), asserting that he would remain with the Congress despite recent political upheavals in the state unit.
His remarks come in the heels of former Assam Congress president Bhupen Borah’s resignation from the party and his subsequent meeting with Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, developments that have fuelled talk of further defections ahead of the Assembly elections.
In a post on X, Saikia defended his loyalty to the Congress and took aim at what he described as opportunism within political ranks. Referring to past events in Sivasagar, he wrote that some individuals who once projected themselves as loyal party workers had later abandoned their ideology. “True loyalty isn’t for sale. I am proud to say: I was Congress then, and I am Congress today,” he said.
Earlier in the day, Saikia expressed disappointment over Borah’s resignation but refrained from speculating on the reasons behind the move. Borah submitted his resignation to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on February 16.
Recalling his early years in politics, Saikia said Borah had supported him when he was first elected to the Assembly in 2001. He acknowledged Borah’s guidance during his initial tenure as a legislator and said he continued to respect him despite the recent developments.
However, when asked about his own political future, Saikia firmly ruled out joining the BJP. He criticised the party’s ideological approach, alleging that it fosters divisions within Assamese society. “Politics should be guided by public service and principles,” he said, adding that he would not align himself with a party whose ideology he does not support.
The developments highlight the churn within the Assam Congress at a time when the party is attempting to consolidate its base in the state.