Assam: AIUDF’s Barbhuiya Quits, Cites ‘Nitish Model’ for Muslims
Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma during a roadshow (Image BJP Assam on X)
Assam Pre-Poll Churn: Congress MLAs Join BJP, AIUDF’s Barbhuiya Exits With a Message for Muslims
By NIRENDRA DEV
Guwahati, March 8, 2026 — In a politically significant pre-election move in Assam, three suspended Congress MLAs — Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha, Basanta Das, and Sashi Kanta Das — formally joined the BJP, deepening the Congress party’s organisational crisis in the state ahead of assembly elections.
The induction of Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha carries particular electoral weight. First elected from Karimganj North in 2011 — defeating a four-time BJP incumbent — he was re-elected in 2021 for a third consecutive term, making his shift a meaningful transfer of established voter support. Basanta Das represented the politically crucial Mangaldoi constituency in Darrang district, while Sashi Kanta Das held the Raha seat, won in 2021.
Sashi Kanta Das was unambiguous in his praise for Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. “For me, the BJP is the most democratic party in the world, and today is a very historic day for me. The efforts made by Himanta Biswa Sarma to bring Assam forward have inspired me,” he said at the induction event.
AIUDF’s Sonai MLA Quits, Invokes Nitish Kumar Model
In an equally significant development in Barak Valley politics, sitting Sonai MLA Karim Uddin Barbhuiya — popularly known as Saju — resigned from the primary membership of the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), addressed to party president Badruddin Ajmal. Barbhuiya has indicated his intention to join the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), a constituent of the BJP-led NDA in Assam.
Barbhuiya’s resignation came with a pointed political argument directed at the Muslim community. Citing the approximately 22 Assam constituencies with a substantial Muslim voter base after delimitation, he argued that restricting political participation to community-centric platforms was strategically counterproductive.
“In a democracy, no community can afford to isolate itself politically. If Muslims continue to remain confined within a narrow political framework, their voice and aspirations may not find effective space in governance,” he said.
Drawing on Bihar’s political experience, Barbhuiya invoked the pragmatic coalition journey of Nitish Kumar, arguing that strategic alliances with mainstream power structures — rather than ideological isolation — deliver better governance outcomes. “Democratic engagement also means raising issues fearlessly when injustice occurs. But constructive dialogue with the government remains essential to secure solutions,” he added.
Barak Valley: Congress Rebuilds With Mixed Slate
Out of power in Assam for a decade, the Congress party is attempting to build a competitive coalition in Barak Valley, combining fresh faces with seasoned veterans and leaders who have crossed party lines.
In Borkhola, the party has fielded Dr Amit Kalwar, a physician whose nomination is being positioned as a blend of professional credibility and political renewal. Kalwar has highlighted unemployment among Bengali youth, rural road connectivity, healthcare gaps, and drinking water scarcity — issues that analysts say are designed to cut across community lines.
In Udharbond — once a Congress stronghold, now considered a safe BJP seat since Mihir Kanti Shome wrested it in 2016 and retained it in 2021 — the party has turned to veteran former minister Ajit Singh, a three-time representative of the constituency. Shome is expected to be replaced by the BJP, with around 15 ticket aspirants in the fray. Notably, 10 to 12 local BJP workers have jointly appealed to the party high command not to field any outsider — a pointed reference to Rajdeep Gwala from Lakhipur, a non-Bengali, Bhojpuri-speaking aspirant. “Mr Gwala has started distributing money and has brought party workers from Lakhipur. This is being opposed by local BJP workers,” said Ajay Das, a local resident.
Ajit Singh has flagged shortcomings in the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission and emphasised protection of employment opportunities for local Bengali youth. In Sonai, the Congress has nominated Aminul Haque Laskar, a veteran whose political journey has taken him from AASU to AGP to BJP and finally Congress. In Lakhipur, the party has fielded Dr M Santi Kumar Singha, a former Trinamool Congress candidate, while Patharkandi sees the nomination of Karthik Sena Sinha, a former BJP legislator.
“The Congress nomination strategy underscores the party’s approach of bringing experienced leaders with established local influence into the electoral fold,” said retired banker Poritosh Nag.
With shifting allegiances, post-delimitation demographic realities, and recalibrated political messaging in play, Barak Valley is shaping up as one of the most closely watched electoral battlegrounds in Assam’s upcoming assembly polls.
Assam’s Linguistic Vote Struggle: Bhojpuri Becomes a Flashpoint
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