Three-Time Congress MLA Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha Joins BJP, Eyes Katigorah Seat

Three-time Congress MLA Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha on Thursday, March 5, formally joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Guwahati, marking a significant political shift in Assam’s Barak Valley. While he joined the BJP today ahead of the assembly polls, but he has resigned from all party positions of the Congress way back in 2024, but waited this long in order to not lose seat to anti-defection law. Clad in saffron attire while addressing the media, the North Karimganj MLA said he would now work as a “soldier of BJP” to support Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and contribute to the development of the region.

Speaking after joining the party, Purkayastha said the current atmosphere in Assam under the BJP government must continue to safeguard the state and ensure development. He stated that he would work to strengthen the party and keep the same zeal alive through his efforts.

The newly inducted BJP leader also highlighted upcoming infrastructure projects in the Barak Valley, including the proposed express highway and the Silchar elevated corridor, whose foundation stones are expected to be laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 14.

Purkayastha further commented on his current constituency of North Karimganj. He said that if people there want development, including those from the Muslim community who form a large section of voters in the constituency, they should consider supporting the BJP. He added that many beneficiaries of government welfare schemes belong to the Muslim community and said it is unfortunate when people receive benefits but do not support the party responsible for them.

Purkayastha is now planning to contest from the Katigorah Assembly constituency in Cachar in the upcoming elections. However, the BJP has not yet finalised candidate selections.

During his years in the Congress, Purkayastha was known as a vocal opposition leader and a prominent face of the party in the Barak Valley. He frequently criticised the BJP-led government and raised several political issues in the region.

However, his political stance began to change on February 14, 2024, when he publicly expressed support for the BJP and Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Soon after, he made a controversial claim that many of his earlier statements against the BJP government and the Chief Minister had been scripted by then Assam Pradesh Congress Committee president Bhupen Bora. Now, nearly two years later, Purkayastha has officially joined the BJP.

Interestingly, Bora himself, who had served the Congress for over three decades and was known for strongly criticising the BJP government, resigned from the party in February 2026 and later joined the BJP in the same month.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also began his political career in the Congress before switching to the BJP in 2015.

The recent developments highlight a continuing trend of senior Congress leaders in Assam leaving the party and joining the BJP, reshaping the political landscape of the state ahead of future elections.