The party candidate of Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) for the Tamulpur Assembly constituency, Rangja Khungur Basumatary, who remained missing since Wednesday morning, joined the BJP on Thursday.
Basumatary formally joined the BJP at an event in Tamulpur under Baksa district.
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The joining programme was attended by Union agriculture & rural development minister Narendra Singh Tomar.
Former Tamulpur MLA Emmanuel Mosahary was present at the programme.
Before joining the BJP, Rangja Khungur Basumatary alias Ram Das Basumatary met Assam minister and BJP strongman in the Northeast, Himanta Biswa Sarma, on Wednesday evening.
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Himanta Biswa Sarma further said Rangja Khungur Basumatary expressed desire to “retire from the election”.
Informing about his meeting with Basumatary, Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday night tweeted: “Official candidate of BPF and so called congress led alliance from Tamulpur LAC, Sri Ram Das Basumatary met me a short while ago. He has express (sic) his desire to join BJP and retire from the election.”
Official candidate of BPF and so called congress led alliance from Tamulpur LAC, Sri Ram Das Basumatary met me a short while ago. He has express his desire to Join @BJP4India and retire from the election.
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) March 31, 2021
Basumatary can’t officially take back his candidature from the Tamulpur seat since the time limit for withdrawal of nomination papers for the third phase is over, but due to his decision to “retire” from the contest, it is likely to make things easy for the candidate UPPL, the ally of the BJP.
Tamulpur Assembly constituency will go to polls in the third phase of the three-phased Assam Assembly election, on April 6, 2021.
Although the BJP did not field any candidate from the Tamulpur constituency, its alliance partner – the Pramod Boro-led UPPL has fielded Lehu Ram Boro as its candidate for the seat.
Bharatiya Gana Parisad (BGP) has fielded Nirmala Das.
The other independent candidates, who have filed nomination papers, include Yaswanta Chouhan, Satyanath Kalita, Royen Narzary, Nilomani Rajbangshi, Dimbeswar Rabha, Nagen Chandra Das, Ramcharan Deka and Keshab Chandra Rajbangshi.
Meanwhile, the second phase of the Assam Assembly election is underway in 39 constituencies across 13 districts of Assam.
The first phase of the Assam Assembly election 2021 was held on March 27, 2021.
The counting of votes will be held on May 2, 2021.