Hours After Joining BJP, Bhupen Borah Appointed State Executive Member

Guwahati: Just hours after formally joining the saffron party today, former Assam Congress president Bhupen Borah was appointed as a State Executive Member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Assam Pradesh unit.

The announcement was made via an official notification issued from the party's state headquarters at Vajpayee Bhawan in Guwahati. The notification confirmed that Borah has been granted the State Executive role, indicating that BJP wants to induct the veteran leader into its organisation structure immediately.

In addition to the appointment of Borah, Sankor Jyoti Baruah and Dr. Sanju Baruah were named members of the party's Media Panel. Diplu Ranjan Sarmah, the General Secretary of BJP Assam Pradesh confirmed the appointments. The communication has been forwarded to the State President, State In-Charge, State General Secretary (Organisation), Chief Spokesperson, and the Media Department to take the required measure.

Borah joined the BJP on Sunday, February 22, a week after resigning from the Congress, ending an association that spanned nearly 33 years. He had stepped down from the party on February 17, citing differences with the state leadership.

He was formally welcomed into the BJP by state president and Member of Parliament Dilip Saikia at a programme held at Vajpayee Bhawan.

A two-time former MLA and a former secretary of the All India Congress Committee, Borah had served as the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee president from July 2021 until May 2025. He was succeeded by Gaurav Gogoi, currently the Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha.

Sharp Words for Congress

Soon after donning saffron, Borah launched a sharp attack on his former party, saying that “any self-respecting Assamese” would no longer wish to remain with the Congress.

Referring to ticket aspirants within the party, he remarked that while hundreds may seek nomination, only a fraction would contest the upcoming Assembly elections. He suggested that many “self-respecting Assamese” would eventually move from Rajiv Bhawan—the Congress headquarters—to Vajpayee Bhawan.

Drawing a dramatic parallel with the Mahabharata, Borah compared the situation of some Congress leaders to that of Karna before his death. “I have moved away from Duryodhana but the Karnas are still there,” he said, hinting that the outcome of the political battle ahead had already been decided, in reference to the elections to the 126-member Assam Assembly expected in April.

BJP Welcomes the Move

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma congratulated Borah for “beginning a new life from today.” Notably, the Chief Minister had visited Borah’s residence in Guwahati a day after his resignation from Congress and publicly announced that he would join the BJP on February 22.

Meanwhile, reacting to Borah’s switch, Gaurav Gogoi said the Congress had grown suspicious that Borah was working in favour of the BJP and allegedly leaking internal information.

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