Ex-BJP MLA, RSS activist Ashok Sarma to quit BJP, to join Cong

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJuly 20, 2024

Former BJP MLA (2016-2021) from Nalbari constituency and an RSS hardcore activist Ashok Sarma on Saturday announced his decision to leave the saffron party and opt for other options.

Sarma is likely to take a final decision in this regard on August 9.

“I was given a show cause notice by the state BJP on May 20. In response to it, I have sought some clarification from the party president, which I am yet to receive,” Sarma said addressing a press conference at Nalbari.

“I will wait till August 8 and I will take the final decision on the following day,” Sarma also said.

He said he yet to decide where he would join, but said the proposal from the Congress party is also under his consideration.

Sarma said he is not happy with the present style of functioning of the present BJP party.

“I am not a founder of the BJP. But I was one of the pioneering leaders, who had laboured to bring the party to power,” he said.

Sarma was denied party ticket in the 2021 assembly elections. BJP had chosen Jayanta Mallabaruah from Nalbari, who is now a powerful minister of Himanta Biswa Sarma’s cabinet.

“For the past three years, I have been pained by the state BJP leaders. I had to suffer many things in these three years. There is a conspiracy going against me,” Sarma said.

“I sought clarification from the party why I have not been taken into confidence. By the party president refused to speak anything. Today he was supposed to come to me. But till this hour, there is no sign that he would come,” he also said.

Targetting chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, the RSS leader said the chief minister is running the government at his own will. “He never listens to MLAs or party leaders. There of corruption everywhere,”  he said.

“There is no democracy and healthy value-based politics left in the present party. The current party is being run by a few lobby-centric leaders with religious hatred, casteism and various corruption and immoral things,” he added.