Three Congress MLAs Join BJP in Assam: Major Blow to Congress Ahead of Assam Assembly Elections 2026

Guwahati, March 5, 2026 – In a significant political development that has further weakened the opposition Congress in Assam, three sitting Congress MLAs — Kamalakhya De Purakayastha, Sashikanta Das, and Basanta Das — formally joined the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday. This switch comes just weeks after former Assam Congress president Bhupen Borah also defected to the saffron party, signaling a continuing exodus from the Congress ranks ahead of the crucial Assam Assembly Elections 2026.

The induction ceremony took place at the BJP state headquarters in Guwahati, where the MLAs, along with two other prominent leaders, were welcomed into the party fold by Assam BJP president Dilip Saikia. Union Minister of State Pabitra Margherita was also present during the event, highlighting the importance the BJP leadership attaches to these defections.

Who Are the MLAs Who Joined BJP?

Kamalakhya De Purakayastha: A three-time legislator representing the Karimganj (North) constituency in Barak Valley. Known for his long association with Congress, Purakayastha has been a prominent face in southern Assam politics. His move to BJP is particularly noteworthy in the Barak Valley region, where political alignments can significantly influence voter sentiments.
Sashikanta Das: The sitting MLA from Raha assembly constituency. Das had publicly expressed support for the BJP’s policies as early as 2021, indicating that his shift had been in the making for some time. Reports suggest he has been closely aligned with Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s camp.
Basanta Das: Represents the Mangaldoi (SC) reserved constituency. Like his colleagues, Das is believed to share a good rapport with the Chief Minister and has been supportive of the ruling party’s developmental initiatives.

In addition to the three MLAs, two other leaders joined the BJP during the same event:

Parsha Bob Kalita, former joint secretary of the Congress.
Kangkan Nath, former general secretary of the Trinamool Congress.

These additions strengthen the BJP’s organizational base, especially in areas where these leaders hold influence.

Context: A Series of Setbacks for Congress in Assam

The defections are the latest in a string of blows to the Assam Congress, which has been struggling to regain ground since its poor performance in recent elections. Just days earlier, on February 22, 2026, former Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Bhupen Borah joined the BJP, dealing a massive symbolic and organizational setback to the grand old party.

Furthermore, last month saw two other Congress MLAs — Abdul Rashid Mondal (Goalpara West) and Sherman Ali Ahmed (Baghbar) — switch to the Raijor Dal, further eroding the Congress’s strength in the 126-member Assam Legislative Assembly.

These developments have reduced the Congress’s effective numbers in the house and weakened its campaign machinery ahead of the polls. Political analysts point out that many of these leaders, including the three who joined on Thursday, were reportedly disillusioned with the Congress leadership at both the state and national levels, citing issues like lack of direction, internal factionalism, and inability to counter the BJP’s dominance in Assam.

BJP’s Strategic Gains Ahead of Assam Assembly Elections 2026

The Assam Assembly Elections 2026 are expected to be held in March-April 2026, with the term of the current assembly ending in May 2026. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who has consolidated power since taking over in 2021, has been aggressively expanding the BJP’s footprint through alliances, developmental schemes, and strategic inductions.

Union Minister Pabitra Margherita, speaking at the induction event, emphasized that “leaders and functionaries from other parties are joining the BJP today because they are showing their support for our ideology.” This reflects the BJP’s narrative of being the natural choice for development-oriented and nationalist leaders in the Northeast.

The three MLAs are believed to have been close to Chief Minister Sarma for years, with some openly backing BJP policies during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and other key moments. Their entry is expected to help the BJP consolidate support in key constituencies:

Karimganj (North): A strategically important seat in Barak Valley with a mixed demographic.
Raha: Part of central Assam, where BJP has been pushing hard on infrastructure and flood management.
Mangaldoi (SC): A reserved seat where SC community outreach will be crucial.

With these defections, the BJP aims to project an image of inevitability and momentum, potentially demoralizing Congress workers and voters.

Impact on Assam Politics and the Road to 2026 Polls

The timing of these defections — just weeks before the likely announcement of election dates by the Election Commission — is no coincidence. The BJP has been on a winning streak in Assam, securing victories in the 2021 Assembly polls, 2024 Lok Sabha elections (where it won most seats), and various local body polls.

Congress, on the other hand, has faced leadership changes and internal strife. The appointment of new faces and efforts to rebuild are underway, but repeated defections make it challenging to mount a strong challenge.

Political observers note that defections are common in Indian politics ahead of elections, often driven by factors like ticket denial fears, developmental incentives, or ideological shifts. In Assam’s case, the BJP’s focus on issues like illegal immigration, flood control, infrastructure, and cultural nationalism appears to have appealed to these leaders.

As the Assam Assembly Elections 2026 approach, all eyes will be on whether the Congress can stem the tide or if more defections follow. For now, the BJP appears to hold a clear upper hand, bolstered by these high-profile inductions.

This story is developing, and more details on the potential roles of these new BJP members and reactions from Congress are expected soon.