“BJP Doors Open for Him,” Says Assam CM After Bhupen Borah Quits Congress

Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday delivered a sharp political response to the resignation of senior Congress leader Bhupen Borah, indicating that the BJP would welcome him if he chose to cross over and asserting that the party remains open to leaders seeking a new political platform.

Taking the lead in the unfolding political development, the Chief Minister criticised the Congress’ internal structure and functioning, claiming that leaders emerging from modest socio-economic backgrounds often find it difficult to sustain themselves within the party. He also questioned recent organisational decisions, including campaign planning and candidate selection, suggesting these had contributed to growing discontent.

The Chief Minister said he intends to meet Borah at his residence on February 17 to understand his next steps. He conveyed that Borah has not yet initiated any communication with the BJP but maintained that the party would be willing to engage with him if he shows interest in joining, and could support his future political journey.

CM Sarma also made projections about the trajectory of several senior Congress leaders, including Gaurav Gogoi, Rakibul Hussain, Pradyut Bordoloi and Debabrata Saikia. He alleged that internal rivalries within the party were intensifying and suggested that more exits could take place before the next Lok Sabha election cycle.

According to CM, Borah’s departure did not come as a surprise and reflected deeper structural issues within the Congress. He claimed the party environment was becoming increasingly unfavourable for certain sections of leaders and predicted that further resignations could occur in the coming years. He also argued that the BJP’s growing influence could draw more Congress members if political space continues to shrink within the opposition party.

Targeting Gaurav Gogoi, Sarma alleged that the Congress MP is focused on national politics and the 2029 Lok Sabha elections rather than the 2026 Assam Assembly polls. He further claimed that Leader of the Opposition Debabrata Saikia could face defeat in the upcoming Assembly elections and might eventually shift to the BJP.

Following Borah’s resignation, Assam Pradesh Congress Committee leaders, led by Gaurav Gogoi, visited his residence for discussions. However, no official statement had been issued by the APCC at the time of filing this report.

Earlier in the day, Borah resigned from the Congress, submitting his letter to party president Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leader Rahul Gandhi. In his communication, he reportedly expressed dissatisfaction with the state leadership, stating that he felt sidelined and was not being given due importance within the party.

ALSO READ: Major Blow to Congress in Assam as Bhupen Kumar Borah Steps Down from Party