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Himanta move divides BJP; Sonowal silent

The Assam BJP unit is heading for a vertical split. The epicenter is Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma who is believed to have moved the party leadership for joining the saffron party. The entire issue seems to have rattled the party in rank and file. State unit president Siddharth Bhattacharya has nothing to object if the former minister sticks to the party’s principles. Bhattacharya has some party people in his support who wants Dr Sarma to be in the party. But a section of the party leaders and workers alike is dead opposed to Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma’s attempt to join them.

Led by senior leader Pradyut Bora, who made the startling revelation, a circle of party men said that the move would do more harm than good. These leaders are believed to have been preparing to move the party bosses in New Delhi to prevent Dr Sarma’s alleged attempt to join the party.

A senior party leader who does not want his name to be disclosed told AT Political Bureau that the former minister is trying to join the party only to get rid of his impending CBI arrest in the multi crore scam. Another senior party said that if he is allowed to join the party, he would try to split the party to float a new forum before or after the 2016 assembly polls. “We will oppose it tooth and nail. If he is allowed our party will have to pay heavy price in the polls,” he said.

The studied silence of a circle of senior leaders have made it difficult for the grassroot leaders to read between the lines. While Bhattacharya has openly endorsed the move raising some condition, Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal seems to have maintained silence. Sonowal is believed to have prepared to speak out if his suggestions are required. The uneasy development seems to have taken place after a senior leader revealed Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma’s move to join the saffron party.

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