Assam Congress MLA resigns; set to join ruling BJP next week

Rupjyoti Kurmi submitted his resignation as legislator to assembly Speaker Biswajit Daimary, one and half months after his win, and was accompanied by two BJP MLAs

Updated on: Jun 19, 2021, 04:48:05 IST

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The Congress in Assam suffered a setback on Friday as one of its MLAs resigned from the assembly citing the party high command’s failure to listen to their second-tier leaders. Rupjyoti Kurmi, who won from the Mariani seat in Jorhat district for a fourth consecutive term, said he is set to join the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) coming Monday.

The Congress, meanwhile, expelled Rupjyoti Kurmi from the party with immediate effect.. (PTI Photo)(PTI06_18_2021_000058B) (PTI)

Kurmi submitted his resignation as legislator to assembly Speaker Biswajit Daimary, one and half months after his win, and was accompanied by two BJP MLAs — parliamentary affairs minister Pijush Hazarika and chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s political secretary Jayanta Malla Baruah.

Addressing the media, Kurmi said: “I was assured of the post of Leader of Opposition in the assembly but was denied that later. I had applied for the post of the party’s state president, but didn’t get that. The party didn’t include my name in the list of members for public accounts committee of state assembly. It seems the Congress doesn’t want leaders like me, who belong to a particular community, to rise.”

“I must congratulate the hard work and dedication with which chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is working and am confident that there will be all-round development in the state under his leadership. That’s why, I have decided to join the BJP coming Monday,” he added.

The Congress, meanwhile, expelled Kurmi from the party with immediate effect.

The decision to expel Kurmi for “his anti-party activities” has been approved by the AICC, said state unit chief Ripun Bora

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Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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