Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma called Bhupen Borah’s resignation symbolic, claiming it reflected deeper structural and ideological issues within the Congress. His remarks have intensified political debate and signaled potential realignments ahead of the high-stakes elections.
BY PC Bureau
February 16, 2026: In a setback for the Congress ahead of the upcoming Assam Assembly elections, senior leader Bhupen Kumar Borah has resigned from the party, citing neglect and lack of recognition within the state unit. Borah submitted his resignation to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, reportedly stating that he felt “ignored” by the leadership.
The development triggered swift political reactions, with Himanta Biswa Sarma describing Borah as the “last Hindu leader in the Assam Congress” and announcing plans to visit his residence. Sarma claimed that the Congress’s position in Assam had weakened significantly and suggested Borah’s exit symbolised deeper structural and ideological changes within the party.
VIDEO | Former Assam Congress chief Bhupen Borah resigns from Congress ahead of the Assembly polls in Assam.
He says, “I sent my resignation to the Congress High Command at 8 am this morning and explained in detail why I was compelled to take this stand. This is not a personal… pic.twitter.com/aXRVvRAjIC
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 16, 2026
READ: Nine-Judge Bench to Decide Future of Women’s Entry into Sabarimala Temple
Borah, who served as Assam Congress president from 2021 to 2025 before being succeeded by Gaurav Gogoi, confirmed that he emailed his resignation to the party high command at 8 am. Speaking to reporters in Guwahati, he said he would share full details at an appropriate time but emphasised that his decision was not driven by personal grievances against any individual.
“I have served the Congress for 32 years, and I am concerned about the party’s future. I have explained my reasons in detail in the letter,” Borah said, adding that he has not received any offers from other political parties so far and has no intention of retiring from politics.
Following his resignation, several opposition leaders, including Congress figures and Akhil Gogoi of Raijor Dal, visited Borah’s residence in an effort to persuade him to reconsider his decision. The resignation comes at a critical time, with assembly elections in Assam just months away, raising concerns within Congress about leadership stability and electoral prospects.
