Senior Assam Congress MP Pradyut Bordoloi switches to BJP; Priyanka Gandhi says he was 'upset over ticket'

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi said that Bordoloi's resignation was unfortunate and added that differences over ticket allocation may have led to the decision.

Updated on: Mar 18, 2026, 17:10:46 IST

Edited by Aryan Mudgal

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Ahead of the much-anticipated elections in Assam, Congress MP Pradyut Bordoloi on Wednesday joined the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) in the presence of chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, a day after resigning from the party.

He also clarified that his resignation from the party was due to “multiple issues” and not as a result of a ticket allocation for the upcoming polls. (ANI/PTI)

Reacting to the development, Congress MP and the party’s screening committee chairperson for Assam, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, called Bordoloi’s decision “unfortunate”. She also suggested that differences over ticket distribution may have led to the decision.

Pradyut Bordoloi joins BJP

Bordoloi joined the BJP in the presence of Assam chief minister Sarma and state BJP chief Dilip Saikia.

He accused the Congress leadership of sidelining him, saying it brought an end to his long association with the party amid claims of internal mistreatment.

Also Read | Congress leader Pradyut Bordoloi quits after 51 years, claims 'humiliation' for backing Shashi Tharoor

He said his resignation was due to "multiple issues" rather than just the matter of ticket allocation for the Assam Assembly elections.

"For me, getting a ticket was not a question of life and death. There were multiple issues. What was important for me was to hold my head high. The Congress party has given me a lot," he was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

"I want to make it very clear that I am in my second term in Lok Sabha, and there are another three years to go. I could have accepted the humiliation if I wanted to remain as an MP. But I decided to leave and work," he added.

Congress terms it ‘unfortunate’

Congress’ Priyanka Gandhi said Bordoloi’s resignation was unfortunate. She added that differences over ticket allocation could have been a factor behind the move.

"I think he was upset over ticket allocation, and I wish we had a chance to have a conversation, it is unfortunate," Vadra told reporters inside the Parliament House complex.

Congress MP Imran Masood said the party would try to convince Bordoloi to rethink his decision. Bordoloi is an MP from Assam’s Nagaon Lok Sabha seat.

Assam elections

Assembly elections in Assam will take place in a single phase on April 9, along with Kerala and Puducherry. Tamil Nadu will vote on April 23, while West Bengal will hold elections in two phases on April 23 and April 29, the Election Commission said on Sunday.

Counting of votes for all states and Union territories will be held on May 4.

With inputs from agencies

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aryan Mudgal
Aryan Mudgal is a Content Producer at Hindustan Times with nearly three years of experience. He is part of the digital news team at HT and enjoys covering day-to-day news and writing long, detailed explainers on key national and global affairs. He takes particular interest in reading and writing about Indian politics, crime, civic issues, as well as global affairs. He goes berserk when covering elections, especially Lok Sabha and assembly polls, and always looks out for fresh stories that could intrigue readers. At Hindustan Times, Aryan has covered various major events, including the Bihar assembly elections, Maharashtra civic polls, the US' military action in Venezuela, Union Budget, and Bangladesh elections. He has previously worked with the explainers team at Firstpost and the news desk at Times Network, covering a range of events including the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Israel–Hamas war, Russia-Ukraine war, Bangladesh’s student protests and Sheikh Hasina’s ouster, Delhi assembly elections, and more. He completed his bachelor’s degree in CEP (Communications & Media, English, and Psychology) from Christ University, Bengaluru, and later pursued a postgraduate diploma in English Journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC). He hails from Siliguri in West Bengal and enjoys reading about politics and day-to-day issues concerning the state. Outside of work, Aryan loves listening to music and enjoys rewatching his favourite comfort shows.Read More

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