Himanta Biswa Sarma and Bhupen Borah

NEW DELHI: Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday announced that former state Congress chief Bhupen Borah will join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on February 22. The announcement comes as Sarma met Borah at his residence in Guwahati today evening.Addressing reporters, Sarma said, “Bhupen Borah will join BJP on 22nd February. Dilip Saikia will work out the details. Along with him, a good number of Congress leaders will join the BJP in Guwahati and North Lakhimpur.”He described Borah as “the last recognised Hindu leader in Congress” and said that the BJP’s national leadership had already cleared his induction. “Our National President Nitin Nabin has already approved his joining and welcomes him. Bhupen Borah will be accorded all due respect and dignity,” Sarma said.Calling the move a “homecoming”, the chief minister added, “Joining the BJP will be like a homecoming for him because it is a party with many people like him, whose fathers did not occupy any high offices.”