Senior Congress leaders rushed to Borah’s residence and assured him that his concerns would be addressed, signalling the party’s urgency to avoid internal disruption before key elections.
BY PC Bureau
February 16, 2026 — A political storm that threatened to deepen the crisis within the Congress in Assam appeared to ease within hours on Monday, as senior leader Bhupen Kumar Borah paused his resignation following urgent intervention by the party’s central leadership and state leaders.
Borah, who had announced earlier in the day that he was stepping down after 32 years in the Congress, said he would take a day to reconsider his decision after discussions with senior leaders, including Gaurav Gogoi and party in-charge Jitendra Singh. The development followed intense behind-the-scenes efforts to prevent a damaging split ahead of the crucial Assam Assembly elections.
READ: Congress Faces Major Blow in Assam as Bhupen Borah Quits
“The Congress High Command was not fully aware of several developments in the Assam unit. I had written to them about my concerns,” Borah told reporters. “Today, senior leaders met me and we discussed everything. I have asked for one day’s time to think it over and will communicate my final decision tomorrow.”
Visuals showed Gogoi meeting Borah at his residence in Guwahati, where he reportedly conveyed that the party leadership had not accepted his resignation and was keen to address his grievances.
Earlier in the morning, Borah had publicly declared his resignation, citing a breakdown in internal coordination and an inability of the party to take “timely and decisive decisions” on organisational matters. He described the move as necessary to protect his self-respect, signalling deep frustration within the Assam Congress ranks.
Party leaders, however, sought to downplay the crisis. Singh described Borah as a senior and valued member of the Congress and framed the episode as part of internal democratic functioning. “Differences can arise in any political organisation, but we resolve them through dialogue,” he said.
The sudden resignation — and equally swift pause — comes at a critical moment for the Congress, which is attempting to rebuild its organisational strength in Assam ahead of elections expected later this year. Borah, a two-time MLA, served as Assam Congress president from 2021 until his replacement by Gogoi.
The political drama also drew sharp reactions from Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma of the Bharatiya Janata Party, who criticised the Congress and claimed the resignation reflected deeper structural weaknesses within the opposition party. Sarma said he was willing to meet Borah and noted that the BJP had previously been open to welcoming him.
The Congress faces an uphill challenge in Assam, where the BJP-led alliance secured a decisive victory in the last Assembly elections. Borah’s resignation — even if ultimately withdrawn — has underscored the internal tensions and leadership challenges confronting the party as it prepares for another electoral battle.
Whether Borah ultimately withdraws his resignation or proceeds with it could significantly influence the Congress’s political stability in Assam in the weeks ahead.
