Assam: Former ULFA commander, several other political leaders join BJP

Guwahati: Ahead of next year’s assembly elections, around 50 leaders from different political parties and organizations joined the ruling BJP in Assam. Among those who joined was former leader of the militant outfit United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent) Drishti Rajkhowa.

Rajkhowa (originally Manoj Rabha) was the deputy commander-in-chief of the anti-talk ULFA, also known as ULFA (Independent). He was second in command after the chief, Paresh Baruah. In 2020, he surrendered to the police in the South Garo Hills district of southwestern Meghalaya.

Rajkhowa was known as an explosive expert and was an active member of the ULFA militant outfit for the last 30 years. The joining ceremony was held at the state BJP headquarters in Guwahati.


Manoj Dhanowar, former Assam president of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), also joined. He contested the Dibrugarh Lok Sabha seat as the AAP candidate in 2024. Dhanowar belongs to the tea community and is the son of the late Rameswar Dhanowar, an eight-time Congress MLA.

Others who joined the BJP included Arjun Chetry, former president of the All-Assam Gorkha Students' Union, and Amal Patowary, former general secretary and spokesperson of Asom Gana Parishad (AGP).

Madhurjya Goswami, former president of the Sonitpur District Congress Committee, Nirmal Payeng, former youth wing general secretary of Raijor Dal, Prashanta Saikia, an educationist and former president of Nagaon District Congress, and Manas Saraniya, an advocate at Gauhati High Court, also joined the BJP.

BJP state President Dilip Saikia stated that the BJP remains open to welcoming more leaders. “Several leaders wanted to join the party. They will seek a party ticket, which is natural. The decision on giving a ticket will be made at an appropriate time. Not everyone will get a ticket—but all must take a pledge to stand with the BJP in the long run.”

He added that more Congress leaders are expected to join soon. “Many more will come from Congress,” he said.