Congress leader Bhubaneswar Kalita joins BJP

Piyush Goyal and party general secretary Bhupendra Yadav.

Speaking on the occasion, Kalita said his decision is emphatic and guided by the BJP-led NDA regime's commitment towards national integration.

Senior Congress leader Kalita, who was chief whip for the Opposition party in Upper House, had tendered his resignation from the Council of States to register protest over Congress party's decision to oppose the abrogation of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir.

In fact, Kalita had said the Congress' decision to oppose the Modi government's stance was a virtual suicidal step and he could not be party to such a decision.

Congress Rajya Sabha MP and chief whip Bhubaneshwar Kalita, who resigned from the party on Monday to protest against the party's stand on scrapping Article 370, will join the Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday evening.

On Monday, Kalita resigned from the membership of the House opposing the party's stand on the abrogation of Article 370 and bifurcation of the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Welcoming him into party fold, Goyal said with Bhubaneswar Kalitaji's 'help', the BJP will be able to serve people better in Assam and other north eastern states.

"Bhubaneswar Kalita ji showed sensitivity to the issue of Article 370 and showed commitment to the nation's integrity and unity," he said.