In a significant political development ahead of the Assam Assembly elections, BJP cabinet minister and sitting Haflong MLA Nandita Gorlosa has joined the Congress party in Assam. The move comes after the BJP denied her a ticket this time, choosing instead to field a new candidate, Rupali Langthasa.
Gorlosa joined the Congress in the presence of the party’s Haflong candidate, Nirmal Langthasa. Confirming the development, a Congress statement read, “We are very happy to announce that Smt Nandita Garlosa has joined the Congress party. She is the voice of Dima Hasao for the last five years and she always stood for her beliefs and principles. She paid the price for this in the BJP because Himanta Biswa Sharma is only interested in selling the land of the tribals to large corporations. Congress will declare her as our candidate for Haflong seat tomorrow (sic).”
“The BJP Minister joined the congress party in presence of Sh. Nirmal Langthasa, APCC General secretary and the candidate from Haflong. Smt. Garlosa is set to contest the election in congress ticket from the Haflong seat as Sh Langthasa has proactively volunteered to vacate there seat in larger public interest. The formalities for the same will be duly completed shortly (sic),” the statement added.
Notably, the BJP denied tickets to several prominent leaders this time, including sitting legislators, with the Chief Minister stating that new faces have been given an opportunity in the party’s candidate list. Gorlosa’s exclusion has drawn significant attention, especially as she currently serves as a minister in the Assam cabinet.
cracks in dima hasao bjp
According to reports, her replacement marks a major political shift in Dima Hasao and points to underlying factional tensions within the party. These tensions are believed to stem from long-standing differences between Nandita Gorlosa and North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council (NCHAC) executive member Debolal Gorlosa.
Rupali Langthasa, who has been named as her replacement, is currently in charge of higher education in the NCHAC and has emerged as a key new face. She had earlier won the council election from Diyungbra on a BJP ticket. Her close association with Debolal Gorlosa and her growing influence within the council are seen as factors that strengthened her candidature.
The decision to replace Gorlosa is being viewed as a calculated move by the party leadership, particularly Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, aimed at managing internal dissent and balancing competing factions in the hill district. Several senior leaders, including Dima Hasao BJP president Dhrity Thaosen and council chairman Mohet Hojai, were also in contention for the seat, but selecting any one of them could have further intensified factional rivalries.
