Guwahati, Feb 16: In a major political development ahead of the 2026 Assam Legislative Assembly elections, senior leader Bhupen Bora has resigned from the Indian National Congress, delivering a significant setback to the party at a crucial moment in its electoral preparations.
Sources confirmed that Bora submitted his resignation to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leader Rahul Gandhi. While the contents of his resignation letter have not been made public, party insiders described the move as a serious blow to the Assam unit, which is gearing up for a high-stakes contest in 2026.
Political circles are abuzz with speculation that Bora may formally join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on February 20. Although no official confirmation has been issued, the timing of his exit has intensified discussions across the state. Shortly after resigning, Bora removed his Congress designation from his social media profile on X, a step widely interpreted as signalling a definitive break from the party.
Bora has had a long association with the Congress in Assam. He represented the Bishnupur constituency as an MLA from 2006 to 2016 and emerged as one of the prominent organisational faces of the party in the state. On July 24, 2021, he was appointed president of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC), leading the organisation during a challenging rebuilding phase following electoral setbacks.
Observers believe his departure could have wider repercussions within the party ranks, especially as it attempts to consolidate its base ahead of the Assembly polls. Neither Bora nor the Congress leadership has issued a detailed public statement so far, and the BJP has also remained silent on reports regarding his possible induction.
His resignation comes amid a series of expected exits from the state Congress. Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha, MLA from North Karimganj, is set to leave the party, along with Sashi Kanta Das from Raha and Basanta Das from Mangaldoi, who previously served as a cabinet minister during the tenure of Tarun Gogoi. Sherman Ali, MLA from Bagbor, Abdul Rashid Mandal of West Goalpara, Siddique Ahmed from South Karimganj and Abdul Rahim Ahmed of Barpeta are also expected to resign from the Congress.
With less than a year remaining before voters head to the polls, Bora’s exit is likely to accelerate political realignments in Assam. Whether this signals a broader shift in the opposition landscape or remains a limited reshuffle within party ranks will become clearer in the coming weeks.
