Bhupen Borah’s resignation exposes rift in Assam Congress, Priyanka to step in

The dramatic exit of former Assam Congress chief Bhupen Kumar Borah has exposed deep organisational faultlines in the party barely weeks before the Assembly elections, forcing the party’s central leadership into a crisis-management mode.

Mr. Borah, a two-time legislator who headed the State unit from 2021 to 2025, announced his resignation citing “self-respect” and dissatisfaction with organisational decisions.

On Thursday (February 19, 2026), Lok Sabha member and party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will chair meetings of the political affairs committee, election committee and frontal organisations in Guwahati.

Though her visit and meetings were pre-scheduled, Mr. Borah’s departure has lent a sense of urgency to address organisational issues.

Ms. Vadra, who heads the Congress panel to shortlist potential candidates for the Assam Assembly elections, will seek to address organisational concerns and review preparations. The Assembly elections are expected to be held by March-end and early April. 

Senior Assam Congress leaders told The Hindu that the Borah episode was less about an individual grievance and more about accumulated frustration over the party’s functioning in the State.

“We could have hinted that Gaurav Gogoi would be our chief ministerial face and allow Bhupen to continue as the Pradesh Congress Committee chief. Now, Gogoi hardly has any time to sort out the organisational issues,” a senior leader from Assam said.

He said All India Congress Committee general secretary for Assam, Jitender Singh, should have been more proactive in keeping the State unit together, describing the handling of the situation as “inept and inconsistent”.

After the 2021 Assembly poll loss, Mr. Singh had himself informed the Congress Working Committee that intense factionalism and the absence of a chief ministerial face cost the party the State elections.

While the appointment of Mr. Gogoi, an articulate youth leader and three-term MP, gave the Congress a face, it has failed to contain factionalism. 

Party insiders flagged the delays in building a broad anti-BJP alliance as a strategic misstep. Negotiations with potential partners have moved slowly, and there is still no clarity on seat-sharing arrangements in several regions. 

A few leaders pointed to a lack of consultation with senior State leaders on key organisational and electoral decisions. The absence of a coherent political narrative against the BJP government has also been a recurring concern, with leaders admitting that the party has struggled to counter the ruling dispensation’s extensive welfare outreach.

Ms. Vadra’s visit could be used to restore confidence within the State unit, contain the fallout from the Borah episode, expedite alliance talks and frame a sharp political narrative to take on the BJP.