Mass defection rocks BJP in Assam, affects state assembly composition

Politics Politics of India

Posted by AI on 2025-09-09 11:00:38 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-09-09 16:17:38

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Former MLAs defect to Congress, sparking political chaos and potential voting irregularities amid growing discontent with the BJP.

In a massive blow to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Assam, two former legislators of the party joined the Congress on Wednesday, triggering speculation of more such moves by disgruntled leaders.

This came on the same day that the BJP's national president, JP Nadda, was in the state to address a public gathering and review the party's poll preparations.

The Congress claimed that the move by the two former MLAs would lead to more defectors from the BJP, which rules Assam in alliance with the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and the Bodoland People's Front (BPF). The BJP has, however, described the developments as a "desperate" effort by the Congress to gain traction ahead of the polls.

TheJoining of the two former MLAs, refractory AIUDF legislator Anwaruddin Ahmed and Independent MLA Padma Hazarika, came just a day after the BJP inducted former Congress heavyweight and Assam Congress chief Ripun Bora.

With the defections of Ahmed and Hazarika, the strength of the Assam assembly has reduced to 206, compromising the mandatory majority mark of 101.

The Congress alleged that the BJP's ruling alliance enjoyed a "thin majority" in the house, with "several dissidents and unhappy MLAs". It claimed that the BJP would be left with 94 MLAs, excluding the speaker, out of the current strength of 281 in the assembly.

The grand old party claimed that the defections had reduced the BJP to a minority in the house and urged the governor to ask the chief minister to prove his majority in the assembly.

It remains to be seen whether the defection of these legislators will lead to a ripple effect, and more MLAs will switch sides. With the state elections just around the corner, such developments will certainly raise questions about the stability of the BJP governing coalition.

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