Assam: BJP minister Pijush Hazarika claims Pradyut Bordoloi contacted him to join BJP

As the political heat intensifies in Assam ahead of the second phase of Lok Sabha elections, the verbal sparring between Minister Pijush Hazarika and Congress leader Pradyut Bordoloi escalates, with challenges and counter-challenges marking the battleground of words.

Minister Pijush Hazarika threw an open challenge to Pradyut Bordoloi during a media interaction. Hazarika stated, "If he has guts, then I am giving him an open challenge to come to Kamakhya temple and swear if he has contacted me to join BJP or not."

The challenge was Hazarika's response to accusations leveled against him by Pradyut Bordoloi. Earlier, at a poll rally on April 21, Bordoloi had targeted Hazarika, labeling him as the 'mastermind of all syndicates' in the state and making allegations about his connections with BJP.

"I am asking him openly to come to Kamakhya and swear, saying that he didn't contact me to join BJP, and I will swear that he contacted me to join BJP," Hazarika affirmed, setting the stage for a showdown of assertions and denials.

Pradyut Bordoloi, in his recent address to the media, had also aimed barbs at AIUDF leader Badruddin Ajmal, questioning his political maneuvers and affiliations. Bordoloi criticized Ajmal's use of a helicopter for election campaigning, demanding proof that it was not funded by AIUDF. He also accused Ajmal of communal posturing and association with BJP's Himanta Biswa Sarma, challenging Ajmal's claims of secularism.

Responding to Bordoloi's allegations, Pijush Hazarika reiterated his stance, calling for transparency in political actions and communications.