Over a month after it lost its bid to dislodge the BJP from power in the Assembly polls, the Congress in Assam suffered another major jolt on Friday.
Mariani legislator Rupjyoti Kurmi on Friday resigned from the party and the Assembly and announced that he will join the BJP soon.
Kurmi is a four-time MLA of the Congress. Kurmi said he will join the BJP on June 21 (Monday).
Kurmi, a prominent member of the tea tribe community, is the son of former Congress minister late Rupam Kurmi and has been elected from Mariani constituency since 2006.
Speaking to media before tendering his resignation to Assam Assembly Speaker Biswajit Daimary, Kurmi complained about the culture in the Congress.
"Congress isn't listening to its young leaders. That's why its situation is worsening in all states. I'll meet Assembly Speaker and tender my resignation... Rahul Gandhi is unable to shoulder leadership, if he's at the helm, party won't move forward," Kurmi was quoted as saying by ANI.
He declared the Congress erred in forging a pre-poll alliance with the AIUDF. "I'm leaving Congress as high command in Delhi and Guwahati leaders give priority to elderly leaders only. We'd told them Congress has good chance of coming to power this time and we shouldn't forge alliance with AIUDF as it would be a mistake," Kurmi said.
Kurmi was quoted by News 18 as saying, “I was the only MLA representing the Congress in the tea community. Me (sic) departure shall leave a huge void in the party as far as tea votes are concerned... I did a lot for Congress, even slit my palms … these things have no value in Congress.”
The Congress, meanwhile, expelled Kurmi from the party for "his anti-party activities".
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Assam Pradesh Congress president Ripun Bora said in a statement that the decision was approved by the All India Congress Committee. Bora also constituted a three-member team, led by former MLA Rana Goswami, to visit Mariani Assembly constituency and take stock of the political situation there.
Thowra MLA Sushanta Borgohain and Manoj Dhanowar are other members of the team.
