GUWAHATI, Nov 16: The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) suffered a major setback in Assam today when majority of its top leaders, including its lone MLA Dulal Ghose, and almost 85 per cent of its supporters joined the ruling Congress at a function at Rajiv Bhavan in Guwahati. The NCP leaders who left the party included its only MLA Dulal Ghosh, general secretaries Akshay Rajkhowa and Ramen Barthakur, joint secretary Shenaj Akram, youth wing president Pradip Bora and presidents of several district committees. Rajkhowa, citing the reason for the defection, said that they were not satisfied with the working of top NCP leaders, especially PA Sangma. Meanwhile, State NCP president Dhirendra Dev Adhikari, reacting to the defection, said that legal measures would be initiated against MLA Dulal Ghose under the provisions of the Anti-Defection Law. He said the MLA and others sold themselves to the Congress. The other leaders who joined the Congress will also be issued show-cause notices, an NCP spokesperson said.
Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Bhubaneswar Kalita were present at the function. Bhubaneswar Kalita said: “It’s a big boost for the Congress that majority of NCP leaders and cadres joined the Congress without any precondition. This is a big success on our part after the victory in the by-elections. The Congress is stronger now as the membership drive being carried out by us is the highest in the country. The membership drive will continue till December 31 this year, and it will be followed by the organizational polls of the party.” THE SENTINEL
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