Guwahati: The opposition Congress in Assam suffered another major blow on Thursday as three of its sitting MLAs formally joined the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The move comes just weeks before the state heads to the polls for the 126-member Assembly, likely scheduled for April 2026.

The three legislators- Kamalakhya De Purakayastha (Karimganj North), Sashikanta Das (Raha), and Basanta Das (Mangaldoi), were officially inducted into the party by state BJP president Dilip Saikia. The ceremony was attended by Union Minister Pabitra Margherita.

The induction wasn't limited to the Congress trio. Two other prominent leaders also crossed over:

  • Parsha Bob Kalita: Former Congress Joint Secretary.
  • Kangkan Nath: Former Trinamool Congress (TMC) General Secretary.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma welcomed the new members, noting that while the MLAs had been supporting the government internally for the past two years, their formal joining marks a significant shift in the state's political arithmetic.

"They have joined the BJP unconditionally. In our party, there is no distinction between new and old members; we are all one," the Chief Minister stated.

The "Ticket" Question

With the Assembly elections around the corner, speculation is rife regarding whether the turncoats will be fielded as BJP candidates. CM Sarma clarified that while their names will be included in the panel for consideration by the state election committee, the Central Parliamentary Board in New Delhi will make the final call on ticket allotment.

Congress under pressure

The Congress party has been reeling from a series of high-profile exits. This latest development follows the shock departure of former Assam Congress President Bhupen Borah, who joined the BJP on February 22. Additionally, MLAs Abdul Rashid Mondal and Sherman Ali Ahmed recently shifted their allegiance to the Raijor Dal.

The current assembly strength

Before the upcoming elections, the 126-member Assam Assembly stands as follows:

Ruling NDA: BJP (64), AGP (9), UPPL (7), BPF (3).

Opposition: Congress (26), AIUDF (15), CPI(M) (1), Independent (1).

The Congress is currently leading the 'Asom Sonmilito Morcha'—a unified opposition alliance—to challenge the BJP's dominance, but the continuous defection of its core leaders poses a massive hurdle for their campaign.