GUWAHATI, March 18: Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Gaurav Gogoi termed Pradyut Bordoloi’s decision to join BJP as “unfortunate” even as he said that it was a “personal decision” taken by the MP.
Reacting to media queries on the development, Gogoi said Congress had stood by Bordoloi in the Lok Sabha elections and had even given an Assembly ticket to his son, Prateek Bordoloi.
“However, despite this, he has resigned from the Congress because of personal reasons,” the state Congress chief said, while stating that he sympathises with the situation faced by the MP’s son following his exit.
Amid the political disorder, Gogoi said he would reach out to Prateek Bordoloi, who is set to contest from the Margherita seat.
“My sympathies are with Prateek Bordoloi. I never thought he would have to face such a situation (after his father’s exit from Congress). I will call him and let him decide what he wants to do further,” he said, indicating that the party is keen to support the young candidate during the crisis.
The state Congress president further said the Assembly elections were crucial for Assam’s future, framing the contest as a larger battle against the leadership of chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
Meanwhile, Congress workers at the Margherita Block Congress Committee office expressed resentment and reacted angrily over Bordoloi’s exit from the party, tearing down posters and photographs of Bordoloi from the Congress Bhawan.
Similar scenes were witnessed at Rajiv Bhawan in Nagaon after the Lok Sabha MP resigned from the party and joined BJP.
Agitated Congress workers gathered at the party office and resorted to vandalism soon after the news of Bordoloi quitting the party spread.
Posters and banners of the Nagaon MP were torn down from the premises and set on fire, as workers raised slogans against him, expressing deep resentment over his sudden departure.
