Major Setback for Lurinjyoti Gogoi, former colleague defected to BJP

The timing of Barua's move adds to its potency, coming as it does just ahead of the crucial Lok Sabha polls.

Digital Desk: In a significant blow to Lurinjyoti Gogoi's political stronghold, Likhan Barua, the Dibrugarh district leader of the Assam Jatiya Parishad, has defected to the BJP just ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. Barua's departure is not only a loss of a key figure within the Assam Jatiya Parishad but also a personal setback for Gogoi, given their close connection.

Barua, who previously held a prominent position as the president of AASU's Dibrugarh district, has long been known as a staunch supporter and ally of Lurinjyoti Gogoi. He formally joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in a ceremony attended by Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal. The ceremony took place at the residence of Lahowal MLA Binod Hazarika.

Likhan Barua's history within the Assam Jatiya Parishad, including his nomination by the party in the Lahowal Assembly constituency during the previous assembly elections, highlights his deep ties with Gogoi's political ambitions. This defection, therefore, represents not just a political realignment but also a personal betrayal within Gogoi's inner circle.

The timing of Barua's move adds to its potency, coming as it does just ahead of the crucial Lok Sabha polls. With the BJP looking to consolidate its position in Assam, Barua's defection provides them with a strategic advantage, particularly in Dibrugarh district.

Likhan Baruah is a 12th-pass businessman as he declares himself in front of the Election Commission of India during the 2021 Assembly Elections. He completed his higher secondary education in 2006 from  Rahmaria Higher Secondary School. Likahn has no criminal record as per his affidavit submitted in 2021.