Former chief minister Tarun Gogoi on Tuesday said Bhubaneswar Kalita, who resigned from Rajya Sabha, is likely to switch over to the BJP while the BJP leaders said Kalita is welcome to the party as a karyakarta and not as a leader.

“I believe he (Kalita) is joining the BJP. If he remains in the Congress I will personally apologise to him,” said Gogoi.

Kalita’s “abrupt” resignation from the Rajya Sabha over the issue of abrogation of Article 370 has triggered numerous speculations inside the party here about his next move.

His categorical remarked in his resignation letter that he can no longer be with the party which has forced the party leaders to think that he is likely to join other party.

In his letter Kalita said he and many within the party were “disillusioned” with the leaderless state of the party and the Congress opposition to abrogation to Article 370 is a “clear path of self-destruction” adding that he “cannot continue to be in the party anymore”.

Gogoi said the Congress had given enough to Kalita adding that he would be recognised as an opportunist if he switched over to the BJP.

Gogoi asked how Kalita came to know that the bill would be introduced on Monday to tender his resignation so swiftly. “How did he come to know? No one in the party was aware of it till the day before yesterday,” Gogoi said.

He said the Congress had always been opposing abrogation of Article 370. “Kalita was aware of it. But he had never informed party’s high command about his disagreement on the issue.”

Gogoi said he has also heard reports that the BJP is likely to project Kalita as a governor.

Assam BJP president Ranjeet Kumar Dass told reporters that the party does not need a leader today. “If he (Kalita) joins as a karyakarta, he is welcome,” he said.