Congress losing Muslim leaders to BJP, Pijush Hazarika claims ahead of Nagaon bypoll

Assam minister Pijush Hazarika on Wednesday, September 16, claimed that several Muslim leaders had resigned from the Congress and joined the BJP ahead of the October 6 Nagaon Lok Sabha by-election, describing the developments as a “mass exodus” from the opposition party.

Hazarika, who is involved in the BJP's election campaign for the Nagaon seat, said he was hopeful of the party winning the bypoll despite acknowledging that it faced challenges.

“In the last Lok Sabha election, we were defeated here in Nagaon by 2 lakh 15 thousand votes. But the situation has changed. The situation of the country, the state, as well as the Nagaon parliamentary constituency, has also changed,” he said.

“Gradually, I am becoming confident. I am not so confident, but I am hopeful that we are going to win. We have challenges, but hopefully, this time we will win,” Hazarika said.

He claimed that a number of Muslim leaders had “rejected Congress” and joined the BJP.

“You can say that a mass exodus is going on from Congress in favour of the BJP. For that, I can say we are going to win this by-election,” he said.

Hazarika also attacked the Congress over what he described as “conflict and infighting” within the party, saying its internal differences would benefit the BJP in the bypoll.

The Nagaon Lok Sabha seat fell vacant after former Congress MP Pradyut Bordoloi resigned from the party earlier this year and later joined the BJP. The BJP has fielded former Nagaon deputy commissioner and former IAS officer Devashish Sharma, while the Congress has nominated former Batadroba MLA Sibamoni Bora. The bypoll is scheduled for October 6, with counting on October 9.

The BJP has been highlighting organisational preparations in the constituency, while Congress has also begun its campaign with Bora holding public programmes in the constituency.