Former Social Welfare Minister under the Tarun Gogoi regime Gautam Roy, who was allegedly involved in multi-score corruption scam in Assam's Social Welfare Department, is all set to join the BJP on March 13, sources have confirmed. Roy is likely to get a ticket to contest the Silchar Lok Sabha constituency seat on behalf of the saffron party where he will challenge incumbent Congress leader Sushmita Dev.
Roy joining the BJP will be seen as a major boost to the party as the BJP had no strong candidates to contest for the Silchar seat and it will be seen as a setback to the Congress.
It is to be mentioned that in 2017, Roy became the second Minister of the Tarun Gogoi Government to be questioned by the vigilance and anti-corruption bureau in connection with a multi-crore-rupee scam involving Assam’s social welfare department.
Roy served as social welfare Minister from 2001-2005 and again for six months