Nine dissident Congress MLAs expelled

They had joined BJP on Nov 7 close on the heels of leader Himanta Sarma aligning with the saffron party on Aug 28

Nine Congress MLAs in Assam, who recently joined BJP, were today expelled with immediate effect for a period of six years for violating party dicipline.

According to an APCC press release here, the nine legislators were expelled from the primary membership of the party on the recommendation of the Disciplinary Action Committee.

The nine MLAs are -- Jayanta Mallah Baruah (Nalbari constituency), Pijush Hazarika (Raha-SC), Pallab Lochan Das (Behali), Pradan Barua (Jonai-ST), Abu Taher Bepari (Golakganj), Kripanath Mallah (Ratabari), Rajen Borthakur (Tezpur), Binanda Kumar Saikia (Sipajhar) and Bolin Chetia (Sadiya).

They had joined BJP on November 7 close on the heels of one-time Congress strongman and dissident leader Himanta Sarma aligning with the saffron party on August 28.

The nine known Himanta loyalists had met BJP national president Amit Shah in New Delhi last September.

On August 30, Congress had suspended Jayanta Mallah Baruah, Pijush Hazarika, Pallab Lochan Das and Pradan Barua from party membership, while show-cause notice was issued to Abu Taher Bepari, Kripanath Mallah, Rajen Borthakur, Binanda Kumar Saikia and Bolin Chetia for anti-party activity.