"Will reveal at the right time": Bhupen Borah after exit from Congress

Former Assam Pradesh Congress Committee President Bhupen Kumar Borah on Monday, February 16, confirmed his resignation from the Indian National Congress, while maintaining silence over the reasons behind his exit. 

“Why I resigned from the party, I will not reveal it now. I have sent my resignation to the party high command. Several senior Congress leaders are sitting here at my residence. When the time is right, I will reveal everything,” Borah told reporters shortly after stepping down.

He disclosed that opposition leaders have already reached out to him. Raijor Dal chief Akhil Gogoi publicly welcomed Borah, stating that his party’s doors remain open. Assam Jatiya Parishad president Lurinjyoti Gogoi also personally contacted Borah, inviting him to join his party. However, Borah pointed out that the Chief Minister had not called him, amid widespread speculation about his possible next political move.

While Borah refrained from making direct allegations, he indicated that his resignation stemmed from internal conflict linked to the ongoing alliance negotiations, a responsibility that had been entrusted to him by the party leadership. Political circles have been abuzz with speculation that the inclusion of MP Rakibul Hussain in the alliance negotiation process may have triggered friction within the state unit. Though Borah neither confirmed nor outright denied the speculation, his silence has only deepened intrigue around the episode.

Borah, who served as President of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee from 2021 to 2024, has been one of the most prominent faces of the Congress in Assam. He represented the Bihpuria Assembly constituency for two consecutive terms from 2006 to 2016 and played a key organisational role in reviving the party during turbulent phases.

His resignation is being widely interpreted not merely as an individual decision but as symptomatic of deeper internal fractures within the Congress in Assam. The timing is particularly significant, as West Goalpara MLA Abdur Rashid Mandal is set to join the Raijor Dal. Mandal has reportedly blamed Rakibul Hussain for his exit, further underscoring factional tensions within the party.

Meanwhile, Akhil Gogoi dismissed speculation that Borah could join the BJP. “It is true that Bhupen Borah has resigned from Congress. But it is also true that he will not join the BJP as speculated. He is a big leader of the Opposition. Talks are underway to convince him to stay in Congress. Several senior leaders have come here to persuade him. We have told him that our party doors are open,” Gogoi said.