The Assam Congress is facing fresh internal turmoil after former state president Bhupen Kumar Borah submitted his resignation on Monday creating major political uncertainty just months before the 2026 Assembly elections. Although Borah later agreed to reconsider his decision in a day or two after appeals from senior party leaders, the incident has clearly exposed deep divisions within the party.
Borah, a two-time MLA and a Congress leader for more than 32 years, said in his resignation letter to party president Mallikarjun Kharge that the decision was a ‘question of self-respect.’ He alleged that important organisational reforms were being ignored and claimed that interference by some senior leaders, including Rakibul Hussain was affecting the party’s functioning. Borah said the current situation had weakened the organisation and demoralised party workers. He also expressed dissatisfaction with the party’s present direction, warning that many workers and voters were losing confidence in the Congress.
Soon after the resignation became public, senior Congress leaders began efforts to convince Borah to withdraw his decision. State president Gaurav Gogoi, AICC in-charge Jitendra Singh, MP Pradyut Bordoloi and Leader of Opposition Debabrata Saikia visited Borah’s residence in Guwahati and held discussions with him. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also reportedly spoke to Borah for about 15 minutes over the phone and urged him to reconsider. By Monday evening, Borah said he would take time until Tuesday morning to consult his family before taking a final decision, though he confirmed that the resignation letter had already been submitted. The party high command has not yet accepted the resignation.
The development also received reaction from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, himself a former Congress leader, said the episode reflected growing dissatisfaction within the Congress and suggested that Borah would be welcomed if he decided to join the BJP. Sarma confirmed that he had spoken to Borah over the phone and indicated that he might meet him soon, increasing speculation about a possible political move.
Meanwhile, reports suggest that several Congress MLAs are unhappy with the party’s internal functioning, and there is speculation that as many as six legislators may consider leaving the party in the coming months. Political observers say the latest developments highlight the continuing factionalism and organisational challenges within the Assam Congress, which has struggled to regain strength in the state since losing power in 2016.
With the 2026 Assembly elections approaching, Borah’s final decision is being watched closely as it could have a significant impact on the party’s unity and the overall political situation in Assam.
