Former Assam Congress chief resigns ahead of Assembly polls, party seeks reconsideration

Borah sent his resignation to AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday morning expressing his dismay over the way the party was preparing to take on the ruling BJP and its allies in the upcoming elections.

Guwahati: In an impending setback to Opposition Congress in Assam, Bhupen Kumar Borah, a senior leader and former president of the party's state unit, resigned on Monday, weeks before the state goes for Assembly elections.

Borah, who served as the Chief of the party's state unit between 2021 and 2025, sent his resignation to AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday morning expressing his dismay over the way the party was preparing to take on the ruling BJP and its allies in the ensuing polls.

"I am worried over future of the party and I have clearly highlighted the same in my resignation letter," Borah told reporters after submitting his resignation.

As there were reports about possibility of Borah joining BJP, AICC in-charge of Assam, Jitendra Singh, Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Gaurav Gogoi, beside others met him and requested him to withdraw the resignation letter. Borah, however, said he sought time till Tuesday morning to take a final call on their request.

Borah, a two-time former MLA, was replaced as APCC President in May 2025, when Gogoi was given the responsibility.

Although Borah did not disclose the exact reason behind his resignation, sources said he was unhappy over Gogoi's handling of the seat sharing with other Opposition parties for the Assembly elections. Gogoi, during a joint press conference on Monday afternoon said, "I apologised to him as a younger brother for any mistake unknowingly committed, if any."

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, while reacting to Borah's resignation said he would meet the Congress leader on Tuesday to discuss about him joining BJP. When asked about possibility of joining BJP, Borah said, "No party has come up with such a proposal yet. But let me make it clear that I have resigned not to take retirement from active politics."

President of Raijor Dal, Akhil Gogoi, an MLA from Sivasagar, said he would try his best to stop Borah from leaving the Opposition camp. Asom Jatiya Parishad (AJP), another Opposition party, also urged Borah to stay in the Opposition.

Congress, Raijor Dal, AJP and the left parties earlier decided to forget an alliance with a target to prevent BJP and its allies from coming to power for the third straight term.

EC team visits Guwahati

A team of the Election Commission led by the Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, reached Guwahati on Monday afternoon. The EC team is scheduled to meet representatives of the political parties, local organisations, government and security officials as well as enforcement agencies on Tuesday and Wednesday, to discuss about preparations for the Assembly elections. The polls for the 126 Assembly are likely to be conducted in April.