Ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections in Assam, Drishti Rajkhowa, the former deputy commander-in-chief of the banned United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), formally joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Guwahati.
The induction marks a notable shift in Assam’s insurgency-politics narrative, as former militant leaders now seek relevance in mainstream politics through the BJP’s platform.
Rajkhowa, whose real name is Manoj Rabha, surrendered to security forces in November 2020 after decades of armed insurgency.
He was once a key figure in ULFA’s armed wing, heading its 109th battalion that operated across the sensitive border regions of southern Assam.
Known for his proximity to ULFA commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah, Rajkhowa remained aligned with the anti-talks faction even after the group split in 2011–2012.
At the joining ceremony organised at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Bhawan—the state BJP headquarters—Rajkhowa was welcomed into the party by BJP state president Dilip Saikia and cabinet minister Jayanta Malla Baruah.
Also present were other senior party leaders, as the event saw a large-scale induction of leaders from different political and socio-cultural backgrounds.
Alongside Rajkhowa, over 50 others from parties such as the Congress, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), and Raijor Dal also joined the saffron camp.
Prominent among them was former AAP Assam unit president Manoj Dhanowar. BJP leaders hailed the development as a strategic boost ahead of the 2026 elections, projecting the influx of new entrants as a sign of growing confidence in the party’s governance and vision for Assam.
Addressing the gathering, state BJP chief Dilip Saikia remarked, “The BJP is not just a political party; it is a family that embraces all who want to serve the nation. Rajkhowa’s decision to join us stems from his belief in our nationalist ideology and development-oriented mission.”
Once feared for his expertise in explosives and guerrilla warfare, Rajkhowa was trained in military camps in Myanmar, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, according to intelligence officials.
His surrender in Meghalaya in 2020 was seen as a major setback to ULFA’s anti-talks faction.
Explaining his decision to join the BJP, Rajkhowa said, “I am not here for a post or an election ticket. I’ve joined the BJP because of its development push and the opportunity to contribute towards a better future for Assam. My intention is not political power, but progress.”