All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) leader Rafiqul Islam has alleged that former Assam Pradesh Congress Committee president Bhupen Borah is likely to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), claiming recent developments reveal deeper fault lines within the Congress in Assam.
Islam said Borah’s “body language” suggests an imminent shift and pointed to what he described as Borah’s proximity to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. “Bhupen Borah was the president of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee, and he has just resigned. From his body language, it seems he will join the BJP. He already has a good friendship with the Chief Minister,” Islam said.
He further questioned the Congress leadership, remarking, “I don’t know what has happened to the Congress party that it has placed BJP agents in high positions.”
Islam also revisited the Congress-AIUDF split, arguing that Borah distanced the Indian National Congress from AIUDF for political reasons. “Bhupen Borah broke ties with AIUDF for this reason because if Congress and AIUDF had fought together in Assam, the BJP could not have formed the government,” he claimed.
Targeting the party’s handling of minority leadership, Islam added, “The Congress likes Muslim votes, but when any Muslim leader rises, the Congress people cannot tolerate it.”
His remarks follow comments by senior Congress leader Debabrata Saikia, who also hinted that Borah could be heading towards the BJP after tendering his resignation.
Speaking to reporters, Saikia said the Chief Minister, as an elected head of government, “should be welcomed wherever he goes because he is an elected CM of Assam”. At the same time, he expressed concern over Borah’s recent criticism of the party. “Now, Bhupen Borah has started abusing the Congress. I feel that Bhupen Borah will join the BJP, but I cannot say what is on his mind,” he said.
Borah has not publicly confirmed any move to the BJP. However, his resignation and subsequent remarks critical of the Congress have intensified speculation of a political realignment ahead of the 2026 Assam Assembly elections.
The developments underscore mounting internal tensions within the Assam Congress at a time when the opposition is seeking to consolidate its position against the ruling BJP.
