Guwahati, April 17: The Assam BJP today claimed that some senior leaders of the ruling Congress and the All Assam Students' Union (AASU) would join the party before the 2016 Assembly polls in the state.

Mahendra Singh, the BJP's Assam prabhari (in-charge), said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party president Amit Shah's leadership has been inspiring and motivating people in the state.

"Many senior leaders of non-BJP parties, including the ruling Congress and leading student organisations, are no exceptions. Some of them are in touch with us. They will join the BJP at the earliest," he told reporters on the sidelines of a function at the BJP headquarters here this afternoon, when 200 people from different walks of life joined the party.

Singh, however, evaded a direct reply to the question of former Congress minister Himanta Biswa Sarma joining the BJP.

"I am not aware of any such development," he said.

A Facebook post by former state BJP general secretary Prodyut Bora that Sarma was joining the party had generated a great deal of speculation in political circles in November last year.

Though Sarma has been denying it, sources said the BJP's top brass at the national level were in touch with Sarma to bring him to the party fold before the 2016 polls.

Among those who joined the BJP today were Amiya Kumar Bhuyan, former AASU general secretary and Assam Congress spokesperson, Biju Bora, another former AASU leader from Golaghat district, and Haren Deuri, former president of the All Deuri Students' Union.

The BJP, which had unveiled its Mission 84 last year with an aim to win 84 seats in the 126-member Assam Assembly in the 2016 elections, has geared up to welcome party chief Amit Shah who will make his maiden visit to the state on April 26 and 27.

Assam BJP president Siddhartha Bhattacharyya today convened a meeting of all district presidents and other party leaders to chalk out plans to make Shah's visit to the state a grand success.

Shah will address a rally of party leaders and workers at the College of Veterinary Science playground at Khanapara in Guwahati at 11am on April 26.

"During his visit, Shah will hold extensive discussions with state BJP leaders and workers on how to ensure the party's victory in next year's Assembly polls in Assam," Bhattacharyya said.

On the issue of senior leaders from non-BJP organisations joining the party during Shah's visit, Bhattacharyya said this would depend on the BJP chief's schedule. "Let us see if we can manage time," he added.