Assam CM Sarma says Bhupen Borah's resignation carries symbolic message: 'No one from normal family can prosper'

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said Bhupen Borah was the last Hindu leader in Assam Congress

• Bhupen Borah resigns from Congress, Assam CM calls it symbolic
• Sarma: Borah's exit shows normal families can't thrive in Congress
• Borah's resignation comes before 2026 Assam Assembly elections

Did our AI summary help?

Assam Chief Minister and BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday welcomed former Congress chief Bhupen Borah's resignation from the party and said him quitting the party carried a symbolic message that no one from a normal family can prosper in the Grand Old Party.

Speaking to reporters, Sarma said, "Bhupen Borah was the last Hindu leader in the Assam Congress party, who did not occupy the post of MLA or minister. His resignation carries a symbolic message that in Congress, no one from a normal family can prosper. He has accused Congress of appeasement politics."

Stating that Congress's position in Assam is terrible, Sarma said, "Three observers have come here for the selection of candidates. They have been assigned an MLA from the minority community... In many district offices of Congress in Assam, meetings begin with a religious prayer from a particular community....Bhupen Borah's resignation carries a symbolic message that Congress has lost its last Hindu leader."

On whether Borah will be joining the BJP or not, the Assam CM said that they were ready to welcome the former Congress chief three years ago and 'give him a safe seat.' "However, he has not contacted us for any joining. Tomorrow evening, I will visit his house," said Sarma.

"For anyone to join the BJP, we need to do a lot of calibration within the party, as we don't have vacancies. All the seats where a Hindu, Indian or Indian Muslim can win are filled. I can predict that people will resign from Congress, whether or not they join the BJP...a lot of Hindu Congress leaders are joining the BJP at the grassroots," said the Assam CM.

In a blow to the Congress ahead of the 2026 Assam Assembly elections, senior leader and former state chief Bhupen Borah resigned from the party on Monday morning.

Stating that he had sent his resignation to the Congress high command, Borah said, "I have given 32 years to the party...This principle is not merely personal; it is driven by concern for the party's future."

His resignation also comes amid ongoing efforts by the Congress to build an opposition alliance in Assam. Borah had recently been tasked with leading discussions with regional parties, including the Raijor Dal led by Akhil Gogoi.