Assam Congress leader Himanta Biswa to cross over to BJP

Dissident Congress leader Himanta Biswa Sarma, who had resigned as a minister in the Assam government last year following differences with Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, today said he would join the BJP in the next few days.

Once a close associate Gogoi, Sarma, accompanied by state BJP president Siddhartha Bhattacharjee, met BJP national president Amit Shaha at his residence in Delhi and expressed his desire to join the BJP and work under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Sarma, former state Education and Health minister, said that it was a "<g data-gr-id="15">well established</g> fact that the BJP would form the next government in Assam in 2016 whether I join the party or not".

Bhattacharjee also announced that Sarma would join the party and the final formalities would be worked out at the state level. Sarma's differences with Gogoi came to the fore following the 2011 Assembly polls. Claiming the support of more than 30 MLAs, Sarma had urged the Congress high command to remove Gogoi as Chief Minister.