Senior Congress leader Debabrata Saikia on Thursday, February 19, alleged that the ruling BJP party a “Congress Alumni Party (CAP)”, increasingly populated by former Congress leaders, including the present Chief Minister.
Speaking to the media, Saikia said, “I don’t want to wear a CAP. What I wear is a Gandhi cap, which is required at our party functions. But looking at the BJP today, with so many former Congress leaders joining it, including the present Chief Minister, it can well be called a Congress Alumni Party.”
Saikia further remarked that the BJP was making former Congress leaders “wear a new topi” after switching sides. The remarks come amid continued political realignments in Assam, with several leaders switching sides ahead of the Assembly elections.
“BJP today looks less like a new alternative and more like a CAP, Congress Alumni Party. A party crowded with ex-Congress faces now wearing a different colour. This CAP seems intent on ‘sabko topi pehnana’ fooling everyone with rebranding, not real change. People deserve authenticity, not recycled politics,” Saikia added.
Speaking about Congress’ internal preparations, Saikia said with the newly appointed chairperson of the screening committee by the general secretary Priyanka Gandhi, unlike previous exercises a new approach is adopted involves extensive outreach across Assam and interact with grassroots workers, office-bearers, and district-level leaders and described the move as a “better and more inclusive approach”.
On the revised strategy he expressed confidence and would energize party workers and help Congress present stronger candidates in the upcoming electoral battle.