Guwahati, Feb 18: Political tensions intensified in Assam on February 18 after Aminul Islam, MLA of the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), accused former Assam Congress chief Bhupen Kumar Borah of working in favour of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) following his resignation from the Indian National Congress.
Islam alleged that Borah had long maintained proximity to the BJP and claimed his departure from the Congress was unsurprising. “Bhupen Kumar Borah has always been the BJP’s agent. For the past two years, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma has been saying that Borah is joining the BJP, and he has set a deadline as well,” Islam said.
He further claimed that Borah, even while serving as president of the state Congress unit, operated under the BJP’s influence. According to Islam, the presence of such leaders within the Congress would hinder the party’s prospects of returning to power in Assam.
The remarks followed a meeting between Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Borah, which fuelled speculation about a potential political shift ahead of the Assembly elections. Borah had submitted his resignation to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on February 17.
Earlier, Borah indicated that he might reconsider his decision if senior leaders Pradyut Bordoloi and Debabrata Saikia assured him that the party’s state unit was functioning in its “true spirit”. He said he was not currently affiliated with any political party and had urged the central and state leadership to consult Bordoloi and Saikia. If both leaders collectively asked him to withdraw his resignation and affirmed that the APCC remained intact in its original character, he would do so immediately.
However, hours after the resignation letter was submitted, Assam in-charge of the All India Congress Committee, Jitendra Singh, stated that the issue had been resolved. He said Borah had withdrawn his resignation following discussions with the central leadership. Singh added that Kharge had not accepted the resignation and that senior leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, had held detailed talks with Borah to address the concerns through dialogue.
The unfolding developments have added to uncertainty within the Assam Congress at a politically sensitive juncture, as opposition parties question the stability of its leadership ahead of the upcoming state elections.
