BJP welcomes Pradyut Bordoloi, ‘one of the most corrupt, manipulative power-brokers, who plundered Assam’

A political post from last year has resurfaced to stir a fresh row, just a day after former Congress leader Pradyut Bordoloi joined the BJP, putting the spotlight back on an earlier attack by the party’s Assam unit.

The controversy began when Congress leader Supriya Shrinate pointed to an August 2025 tweet by BJP Assam that had accused Bordoloi of corruption and misuse of power. Sharing the post, she questioned whether the ruling party would now stand by those allegations or remove the tweet altogether.

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In the earlier post, the BJP’s Assam unit had described Bordoloi as “one of the most corrupt, manipulative power-brokers Assam has ever seen, plundered the state mercilessly during his tenure.”

“Pradyut Bordoloi, one of the most corrupt, manipulative power-brokers Assam has ever seen, plundered the state mercilessly during his tenure.”

Time to delete the tweet BJP and Himanta? https://t.co/FHAY7GF365

— Supriya Shrinate (@SupriyaShrinate) March 18, 2026

Row erupts after Bordoloi’s entry into BJP

The issue has gained traction after Bordoloi formally joined the BJP in New Delhi yesterday, marking a major political shift in Assam ahead of the upcoming elections.

Speaking after his induction, Bordoloi said he was drawn to the BJP due to his appreciation for Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s governance.

“I decided to join the BJP after observing the Chief Minister’s work closely. His commitment to governance impressed me,” he said.

He also spoke about feeling sidelined in the Congress, saying he did not receive due respect and had been under mental strain within the party.

“I did not get the respect that I should have received in Congress. I was going through mental distress while being with the party,” Bordoloi said.

He added that he hopes to work towards preserving Assamese identity and dignity through his new political role.

Meeting with Amit Shah signals BJP’s focus on Assam

Soon after joining the party, Bordoloi met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the presence of Chief Minister Sarma in New Delhi. Union Minister Piyush Goyal was also part of the meeting, which is being seen as a signal of the BJP’s push to strengthen its position in Assam.

Sources indicated that Bordoloi has been encouraged to play a more active role in the upcoming Assembly elections.

The BJP has welcomed Bordoloi’s entry, with Sarma taking a swipe at the Congress. “There is no space left for self-respecting individuals in the Congress today,” he said.

Bordoloi’s move is being viewed as a setback for the Congress in Assam, at a time when political realignments are picking up pace ahead of the polls.