Political activity is heating up in Assam ahead of the assembly elections. Yesterday, Monday, the state was in a state of flux as former Assam Pradesh Congress Committee president Bhupen Bora resigned from the party. This news came as a shock to the Congress, and the BJP tried to capitalize on it. By evening, news broke that he had withdrawn his resignation, while Chief Minister Sarma said he would meet with them on Tuesday.
In Assam, which is on the cusp of elections, a resignation has raised the political temperature in the state. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who was on a visit to Uttar Pradesh, said in Mirzapur yesterday, “I don’t think he (Bhupen Bora) has withdrawn his resignation. I spoke to him on the phone just 10 minutes ago, and he has invited me to his house tomorrow at 7 p.m. If he had withdrawn his resignation, why would he invite me?”
Hope Bora joins BJP: CM Sarma
He further said, “There is a possibility that he will join the BJP. I want him to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) because he is the last Hindu leader within the Congress in Assam. This will be confirmed after the meeting at 7 pm.”
#WATCH | Mirzapur, UP | On former Assam Congress chief Bhupen Borah, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma says, "I don't think that he has withdrawn his resignation. I spoke with him by phone, and he invited me to his residence at 7 tomorrow…I want him to join the BJP as he is the last… pic.twitter.com/FoRq233H6q
— ANI (@ANI) February 16, 2026
Earlier, several party leaders, mobilized by the resignation, claimed that former Assam Congress chief Bhupen Bora had decided to reconsider his resignation after the high command intervened. State Congress in-charge Jitendra Singh claimed that Bora withdrew his resignation after party president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi spoke to him. However, Bora says he has sought time from the high command to reconsider his decision.
This is our internal matter: Jitendra Singh
Jitendra Singh told reporters outside Bora’s home, “The party leadership has spoken to Bora on this matter. Rahul Gandhi also spoke to him for 15 minutes.” Regarding the resignation, Jitendra said, “This is an internal matter of our party; we discussed in detail the issues that were troubling him, and I thank him for withdrawing his resignation.”
In addition to Jitendra Singh, several senior Congress leaders, including Assam Congress State President Gaurav Gogoi, MP Pradyut Bordoloi, Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Debabrata Saikia, and other party MLAs, visited Bhupen Bora’s home to try to persuade him.
On the other hand, Bora says he has requested time from the party high command to reconsider his decision. He said, “Some of my old colleagues and the central leadership of the party visited my home, and I respect them.” He also said, “I have requested time until tomorrow (Tuesday) morning so that I can speak to my family and make a further decision on this matter.”
What did Bhupen Bora say about the CM’s visit to his home?
Bora has been associated with the Congress party for nearly 32 years. He has asked for time to decide on his resignation. He is consulting with several senior leaders and well-wishers before making a final decision. He says he has done nothing wrong by submitting his resignation. Bora was elected MLA from the Bihpuria constituency twice. Bora served as the Assam Congress state president from 2021 to 2025, and was replaced by Gaurav Gogoi last year.
Regarding CM Sarma’s statement that he would visit his home, Bhupen Bora said, “If a Chief Minister wants to come to my home, it is a matter of great pride.” Referring to Sarma’s departure from the Congress, Bora said, “At one point, Sarma was also forced to leave the party because he was not made the Chief Minister of Assam despite the support of 58 MLAs. Is this internal party politics? How long will this politics continue?”
Earlier, CM Sarma had said that the doors of BJP are open for Bhupen Bora and promised to help him get elected from a “safe seat” if he joins the party.
