A day after Congress MLA Rupjyoti Kurmi announced his resignation from the party, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has appealed to all opposition MLAs to join the ruling party and "work together for the public".
Kurmi, Congress' lone legislator from Mariani constituency, announced that he would quit the grand old party and officially join the BJP on Monday in the presence of CM Sarma.
"What will they do in the opposition benches for five years? I would rather say they should join us. Since we are working for the welfare of people irrespective of caste, creed and religion, I appeal to them (opposition members) to join us and work together for the public," the CM said.
After defecting from Congress on Friday, Kurmi attacked that party saying that the organisation has become "very weak" as the leaders "do not listen to the voice of the grassroots workers".
He added that the assembly election results are a testimony of the fact as the party "failed in all the five states" where the polls were held in March and April.
"It appears that the party leadership is not willing to give an opportunity to people from the tea tribe or other marginalised communities but it is seen that people from a particular religious community are given prominence in the party," he said.
Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition in the assembly Debabrata Saikia has termed Kurmi"s exit as a loss for the party.
Another senior Congress leader Juri Sharma Bordoloi, who was the president of the Guwahati city district Congress and former national office-bearer of Mahila Congress, had also resigned from the party on Friday.
Over 100 supporters have decided to leave the party along with her, Bordoloi claimed.
With Kurmi's exit, the Congress' strength in the 126-member Assam assembly has reduced to 28.
Currently, BJP has 60 MLAs, while its allies has nine and UPPL five.