Heavy weights flock to BJP in Northeast

Guwahati: In a boon to the BJP’s on-going efforts to consolidate its foothold in Northeast India, prominent students and youth leaders and some veteran politicians from other political parties have joined the party in Assam and Manipur of late.
It was a major success for the BJP in wooing two top leaders from the influential All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) to its ranks in Assam.
Two ASSU advisers — former general secretary Tapan Gogoi and former president Sankar Prasad Rai – have joined the BJP much to the glee of the saffron brigade given that both the students’ leaders have solid mass base in the state because of their decades old association with the AASU.
Both the students’ leaders are known to be vocal supporter for the demands for protection of rights of indigenous people by providing constitutional safeguards for the populace.Before the AASU leaders, another prominent youth leader Manoj Baruah, leader of Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Pasrishad (AJYCP) also joined the BJP.
Several leaders from regional Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) have already donned saffron.
Though alarmed at prominent students and youth leaders flocking to the BJP, Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi tried to belittle the developments saying that BJP was in such a pitiable state in the state that it needed to woo leaders from apolitical groups to consolidate in the state.
In Manipur too, the BJP has been able to attract several political heavyweights in the state to its ranks. Some of the prominent personalities who have joined the BJP included former chief ministers, R K Dorendra Singh and Radhabinod Koijam, former minister and parliamentarian Okram Joy Singh, former director general of Manipur police Yumnum Joykumar Singh.
Besides many former ministers and former MLAs have joined the BJP of late strengthening the saffron party in the state where the BJP opened account in recent district council polls by winning 17 out of 144 seats.
A BJP source informed that Okram Joy Singh who has been one of the most vocal opposition leaders in Manipur would be an asset to the BJP in Manipur with his vast knowledge and political wisdom.
The BJP doesn’t have a single MLA in Manipur where the party’s is in the process of setting up its base and the process has gained momentum of late.