New Delhi: The Indian National Congress on Monday inducted former Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) leader Jayanta Khaund along with several supporters into the party. The move is seen as an effort to strengthen the Congress organisation ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections in Assam.
Khaund formally joined the party at the Congress headquarters in the presence of senior leaders including Jitendra Singh Alwar, AICC general secretary in charge of Assam; D. K. Shivakumar, Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka and Congress senior observer for Assam; Gaurav Gogoi, president of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee; and Manoj Chauhan, AICC national secretary.
Welcoming Khaund into the party, Gaurav Gogoi said the joining of a grassroots leader like him shows growing dissatisfaction in the state against the leadership of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Gogoi claimed that many leaders in the ruling camp feel “suffocated” under the current leadership and that honest workers are being ignored while corrupt people are being promoted.
Gogoi added that Khaund’s decision to join the Congress reflects a growing demand for political change in Assam.
Criticising the Bharatiya Janata Party, Jitendra Singh alleged that the party often weakens regional parties after forming alliances with them. He said similar attempts were being made to weaken the AGP in Assam.
Singh also said that Khaund’s entry into the Congress would strengthen efforts to protect Assam’s culture, identity and values ahead of the elections.
