Assam: Former Union Minister and BJP leader Rajen Gohain joins AJP

Guwahati: In a major shakeup in Assam's political scene, former Union Minister and four-time Nagaon MP Rajen Gohain officially joined the Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) on Wednesday.

This move marks a significant political shift for the veteran politician, who was once a key stalwart of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the state.

Gohain, along with a group of his supporters, was formally welcomed into the regional party at a ceremony held at the PWD Auditorium in Guwahati.

Top AJP leaders, including party president Lurinjyoti Gogoi, working president Chittaranjan Basumatary, and senior leader Jagadish Bhuyan, were present at the event.

The veteran leader had resigned from the BJP on October 9, citing "growing discontent" with the party's leadership and direction.

Speaking after joining the AJP, Gohain expressed his commitment to serving the people and his profound disappointment with his former party.

"Wherever I am, I have always tried to perform my duties with honesty and commitment. I will continue to do so here as well," Gohain stated.

He further criticized the BJP's current functioning, asserting that the party had "drifted far from the ideals of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and veteran leader L.K. Advani."

"I have been patient for a long time, but the present state of affairs is deeply disappointing. We did not join this party to witness personality-driven politics. It has now gone into the hands of people who have little connection with the party’s founding values," he remarked.

Gohain, who served as the Minister of State for Railways during the first term of the Narendra Modi government, had sparked widespread speculation about his next move following his resignation from the BJP's state headquarters.

His decision to align with the AJP — a party born out of the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act movement — underscores his belief that a strong regional force is essential to safeguard Assam’s interests.