Congress Assam chief Ripun Bora quits after ‘humiliating defeat’

GUWAHATI: Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Ripun Bora today tendered his resignation from the party post “owing the responsibility of the humiliating defeat of my party” following the party-led grand alliance’s loss in the Assam assembly elections today.

He cited failure of the party under his leadership to “combat the divisive and communal politics” of the BJP and the RSS as the reason.

“I do hereby tender my resignation from the post of President, Assam Pradesh Congress Committee owing the responsibility of the humiliating defeat of my party in the Assam Assembly Election 2021.

ALSO READ: Assam elections trends: NDA wins 57 seats in Assam so far; leading in 16 others

“Madam, I am extremely saddened and disheartened to inform you that despite my immense hardwork we were unable to combat the divisive and communal politics played by the BJP and RSS,” Bora stated in his resignation letter to party chief Sonia Gandhi tonight.

Not only has the Congress been humiliated, Bora himself lost from his home constituency Gohpur to Utpal Bora of the BJP.

“Despite all the odds, I did the best in my capacity to revive the party during the last four years as President of Assam PCC ... Madam, I shall be ever grateful to you for assigning me with such a great responsibility of President, Assam PCC to serve my party,” he added.

ALSO READ: Congress retains Titabor, Mariani; Ajanta Neog wins from Golaghat

The Rajya Sabha member, however, committed to continue as dedicated Congress worker.

“However, I pledge to continue my fight as a dedicated congressman to uphold the ideology and values of Indian National Congress,” he wrote.

Bora was elected state Congress president in August 2016.

During his tenure, the Congress could neither make any impact in any of the council elections or any civic body poll.

ALSO READ: People’s Leader To People’s CM? Will Himanta Biswa Sarma Be Next CM?

Despite a better performance than the 2016 elections, the party’s alliance with the Badruddin Ajmal-led All India United Democratic Front is attributed to be one of the factors for the UPA’s debacle especially in Upper Assam and in the Bodoland Territorial Region.