GUWAHATI: Rubbishing reports of joining Congress, Tezpur Lok Sabha MP Ram Prasad Sarmah , who quit BJP on Saturday, said his association with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is still intact."The RSS is in my blood, heart and soul. My link with the RSS goes four decades back. My association with the RSS will remain forever, irrespective of whether I am in any political party or not," Sarmah told TOI.On Sunday, Sarmah softened his stand on BJP by saying that the central leaders are yet to take a decision on his resignation."I am always grateful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union home minister Rajnath Singh, external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj and many other central leaders for their support when I was with BJP. Central BJP leaders have always helped me and I am obliged to them," said Sarmah.Asked what will be his role in the Lok Sabha polls, he added that he will stay out of campaigning and other poll-related activities. "I will resume my law practice. At the same time, I will be with the people of Tezpur and work for them without associating with any political party. I will maintain complete silence during the polls," said Sarmah.On Saturday, after knowing that he is not going to get a ticket for the Tezpur parliamentary seat, Sarmah was critical of BJP and its state leaders. Sarmah, who is the lone MP from the state's Gorkha community, had said it was he who wanted Sarbananda Sonowal to join BJP and also be the chief ministerial candidate.

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