Three Join Bharatiya Janata Party in Assam Ahead of Nagaon Lok Sabha By-Poll

Former Nagaon Deputy Commissioner Debashish Sharma and journalists Lenin Saurav Bora and Gunjan Kalita joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday, days ahead of the Nagaon Lok Sabha bypoll . The three joined the party at a programme attended by Assam BJP president and MP Dilip Saikia, Cabinet Ministers Piyush Hazarika, Jayanta Malla Baruah and Kaushik Rai, Nagaon MLA Rupak Sharma and other senior party leaders. Sharma’s entry into the BJP has triggered speculation over whether he could be considered for the party’s Nagaon bypoll ticket. Saikia, however, said Sharma had not sought a ticket before joining the party. “We have a panel of candidates,” Saikia said, adding that discussions on the election were already underway. He said the party could consider Sharma if a request came from him or from people in Nagaon. “If a request comes from his side or from the people of Nagaon, the state committee and national committee will certainly consider it,” he said. On Sharma’s possible role in the party, Saikia said the state and central leadership would decide what responsibility he would be assigned. Speaking about Sharma’s induction, Saikia referred to his administrative experience and association with Assam’s social and cultural life. “He has experience in Assam’s cultural, social and administrative life. His joining will give further strength to the party,” Saikia said. The BJP president also described Sharma as a sensitive person who had worked for the people of Assam. The induction of Sharma, Bora and Kalita comes as political activity intensifies in Nagaon ahead of the bypoll.