Is another veteran Congress leader joining BJP? APCC President responds

In an exclusive interview with ETV Bharat, Ripun Bora, President of APCC shared his views on the resignation of veteran Congress leader Bhubaneswar Kalita.

New Delhi:Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) President Ripun Bora on Monday expressed total surprise over the move of veteran Congress leader Bhubaneswar Kalita resigning from Rajya Sabha.

"I am shocked and at the same time totally surprised over Bhubaneswar Kalita's move to resign from Rajya Sabha. I don't know the reason. He was with Congress since 1984. He was earlier a youth leader when he joined Congress and thereafter he remain as an MP. He was a minister also in Assam government," recalled Bora while talking to ETV Bharat.

Bora said that Kalita's resignation has totally surprised him.

"I am not aware what prompts him to resign," he said.

It is learnt that opposing Congress stand over Centre's move to repeal Article 370 and 35A from J&K, Kalita has resigned. Reports also indicate that Kalita was not at all happy with the present state of affairs in the central leadership of Congress.

"If opposing Article 370 and 35A was one of the reasons be could have talked with us. And as far as leadership is concerned, at this time of crisis Kalita should have been associated with Congress," said Ripun Bora.

In the recent past, several Congress leaders have left the grand old party and joined BJP.

Bora said that AICC will take a call if any disciplinary action is needed against Kalita.

"He is a senior leader. It's up to AICC to take a further call on any showcase notice or anything," said Bora.