Assam: Cong MLA and former minister Ajanta Neog to join BJP by Dec 31

GUWAHATI:

Expelled Congress leader and four-time Golaghat MLA Ajanta Neog including Lakhipur Congress MLA Rajdeep Goala, are all set to formally join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) before December 31, sources said on Sunday.

Neog, a former state minister, would join the saffron party here before being accorded felicitation by her supporters in her home constituency next month.

A close confidante of the former chief minister, (L) Tarun Gogoi, Neog had held important portfolios of social welfare and public works departments during Gogoi’s tenure.

On Saturday, Neog had made her intentions of joining BJP certain when she met Union home minister Amit Shah here.

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“Till yesterday I was in Congress, I didn't speak about anything in this regard as a disciplined member of the party. But now as I'm joining the BJP, I'll speak to you soon. Very soon I'm joining the BJP along with all my supporters," said Neog was reported to have told reporters after meeting Shah.

The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee had, on Friday, expelled Neog from the primary membership of the party for anti-party activities over the last few days.

The disciplinary action came amid speculations that legislator from Golaghat constituency might soon join the BJP.

Earlier this month, Neog met chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal and North-East Democratic Alliance convenor, Himanta Biswa Sarma.

The development comes as a big blow to the Assam Congress ahead of the Assembly elections scheduled for April-May 2021.

(Edited by Andre Kongri)

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