Bhupen Borah resigns: How his exit could dent Congress ahead of Assam elections

The Congress appointed two-time MLA Bhupen Kumar Borah as the Assam unit president in 2021.

• Senior Assam Congress leader Bhupen Borah resigns from party
• Resignation precedes Assembly polls and Priyanka Gandhi's visit
• Borah may join BJP and contest from Ranganadi constituency

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The Assam unit of the Congress party suffered a significant setback on Monday as senior leader and former state chief Bhupen Kumar Borah announced his resignation from the party. Borah sent his formal resignation to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and also wrote to party leader Rahul Gandhi.

His decision, coming just weeks ahead of the Assembly polls in the state, came after the Congress recently tasked him with leading the charge on finalising seat-sharing arrangements and uniting opposition forces.

The development also comes as an embarrassment for the party as it comes just ahead of party leader Priyanka Gandhi’s scheduled visit to Assam.

According to reports, Borah is learnt to have blamed Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi’s “high-handedness" for his decision.

Borah told PTI that he has not ''resigned from the party due to any 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.

Who is Bhupen Borah?

The Congress appointed two-time MLA Borah as the Assam unit president in 2021.

Borah is a two-time (2006 and 2011) MLA from the Bihpuria constituency. He has also held the post of secretary, AICC since 2013. He has also served as the Parliamentary Secretary, Home and Power, in the Assam government.

According to The Indian Express, Borah has been involved in politics since his university years in Dibrugarh. Eventually, he became a Youth Congress activist. He served as the president of Assam Pradesh Youth Congress between 1996 and 1998. Between 2002 and 2010, he served as the general secretary of the APCC.

How his resignation will impact the Congress

The Congress last won the Assam Assembly election in 2006. It secured a majority under then Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and formed the government.

However, the Congress lost power in 2016, and the BJP formed the government in the state.

Borah’s resignation from the top post in the Assam Congress could have significant organisational impact. As the APCC chief, Borah played a central role in rebuilding the party after successive electoral setbacks. His departure may initially create a leadership vacuum, especially if there is no immediate successor.

Borah has bee an aggressive critic of the ruling BJP government in the state. His resignation could hit the intensity of the Congress’ attacks on the Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma-led Assam government.

Moreover, apprehensions over more high-profile exits within the Congress would also not appear misplaced. Reports suggest the likelihood of Borah switching sides and formally joining the BJP in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The BJP has also indicated that its doors would be open for Borah.

According to News18, he is expected to be fielded from the Ranganadi Assembly constituency on a BJP ticket. If it so happens, his would be the second high-profile exit from the Congress after the incumbent CM Himanta Biswa Sarma switched sides in 2014 over disagreements with former CM Tarun Gogoi.

"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. I welcome the resignation. However, he has not contacted us for any joining. Tomorrow evening, I will visit his house. Three years ago, we were ready to welcome Bhupen Borah and give him a safe seat," the Assam CM told ANI.