Asked for his reaction to Sarma's announcement in New Delhi today that he had expressed his desire to join the BJP after meeting BJP president Amit Shah, Gogoi said, "It is his personal decision for his personal benefit."
Assam Pradesh Congress Committee President Anjan Dutta said that he was yet to receive any communication from Sarma regarding his leaving the Congress in favour of the BJP and hence cannot comment.
"He has not resigned from the Congress so far. I have not received any letter in this regard," Dutta told reporters here.
Asked if Sarma's departure from the party would affect Congress' prospects in the 2016 Assam legislative polls, Dutta said, "No one is indispensable and the party will not be affected if any person leaves. If I or even the Chief Minister leaves it is not going to affect the party. The party is much bigger and stronger than any individual."
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"It was only yesterday that I talked to him about the party's forthcoming programmes, including a road blockade tomorrow, and he promised to be there but he did not say anything about leaving the party and joining the BJP," the APCC president said.
Meanwhile, Congress MP from Kaliabor Gaurav Gogoi, who is the chief minister's son, said Sarma's joining the BJP was a "personal decision" and he respects it.
He, however, said that he had failed to understand why the former minister had to "join a losing party by leaving a winning party".