Assam Politics: Bhupen Borah Quits Congress, BJP Opens Doors

Former Assam Congress chief Bhupen Kumar Borah has quit as a key state leader, sending a resignation letter to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge ahead of the Assam Assembly elections. Borah confirmed the move to journalists, saying he had already detailed his reasons in writing and would speak publicly later.

News of the resignation triggered immediate political activity in Guwahati, with senior Assam Opposition leaders rushing to Bhupen Kumar Borah’s residence. Congress figures Gaurav Gogoi, Bhanwar Jitendra Singh and Pradyut Bordoloi arrived, along with Raijor Dol chief Akhil Gogoi, in an effort to persuade Borah to remain with the party.

Bhupen Kumar Borah resignation and reported reasons within Assam Congress

Although Bhupen Kumar Borah has not shared the full contents of the letter, news agency PTI quoted sources about what was written to Mallikarjun Kharge. According to these sources, Borah complained that he was being "ignored" by the party leadership and denied proper recognition and space within the Assam Congress organisation.

Speaking briefly to reporters in Guwahati, Bhupen Kumar Borah said he had emailed his resignation early in the morning to the Congress high command. He explained that the message, sent at 8 am, contained a detailed account of his decision-making process and concerns about the party’s current state.

Bhupen Kumar Borah, a two-time MLA, led the Assam Congress between 2021 and 2025, before Gaurav Gogoi took charge last year. During that period, Borah was credited within the party with rebuilding grassroots structures after consecutive Assembly losses to the BJP, though central leaders later felt his influence had reached a ceiling.

Bhupen Kumar Borah resignation and response from Himanta Biswa Sarma

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma reacted quickly as reports of the Bhupen Kumar Borah resignation spread. Sarma described Borah as the "last Hindu leader in the Assam Congress party," and announced plans to visit Borah’s home on Tuesday evening. "Three years ago, we were ready to welcome Bhupen Borah and give him a safe seat," Sarma said.

Himanta Biswa Sarma linked the latest developments to his earlier attack on current state Congress chief Gaurav Gogoi, whom Sarma has accused of having connections with Pakistan. Sarma claimed that, since those allegations, many grassroots "Hindu Congress leaders" had moved towards his camp and forecast that about five more MLAs could cross over within the next fortnight.

Sarma broadened his criticism by painting a bleak picture of the party in the state. "Congress's position in Assam is terrible. Three observers have come here for the selection of candidates. They have been assigned an MLA from the minority community. The situation is really grim. In many district offices of Congress in Assam, meetings begin with a religious prayer from a particular community. The Congress in Assam is changing fast. People are noticing it. Bhupen Borah's resignation carries a symbolic message that Congress has lost its last Hindu leader," he added.

Bhupen Kumar Borah resignation, party turmoil and leadership change in Assam Congress

Internally, unease inside the Assam Congress had been growing since the leadership change nearly a year ago, when the party handed control to Rahul Gandhi’s close aide Gaurav Gogoi. Senior figures in Delhi believed Bhupen Kumar Borah had peaked as state president and wanted someone they saw as having a larger profile to challenge Himanta Biswa Sarma.

That decision unsettled many state workers, who felt Bhupen Kumar Borah had helped stabilise the organisation after two straight defeats. Doubts spread through district units about whether the shift to Gaurav Gogoi would disrupt the fragile structures built under Borah and weaken the campaign before the next Assembly polls.

Amid those concerns, Bhupen Kumar Borah insisted that personal rivalries were not behind the resignation. Borah said he has not ''resigned from the party due to any particular person or any personal reason." ''I have served the Congress for 32 years, and I am worried about the future of the party. I have explained in detail about my reasons in the resignation letter sent to the party high command,'' he said.

During the media interaction, Bhupen Kumar Borah kept most details back, promising a fuller briefing later. ''I don't want to say anything more than this. I will invite mediapersons at an appropriate time and give all the details. I don't hide anything and will not take any steps in secrecy,'' he said, while confirming that leaders like Akhil Gogoi had reached out.

Key roles and dates linked to Bhupen Kumar Borah and Assam Congress are shown below for context.

The Bhupen Kumar Borah resignation has exposed deeper strain inside the Assam Congress, from leadership changes to ideological arguments highlighted by Himanta Biswa Sarma. With Opposition leaders visiting Borah and Congress heavyweights trying to hold him back, the episode now shapes the party’s prospects before the next Assembly elections in the state.