Guwahati | Enoxx News
In a massive political earthquake just weeks before the crucial Assam Assembly elections, former state Congress president Bhupen Kumar Borah has severed his 32-year-long ties with the grand old party and is set to join the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The high-profile switch, scheduled for February 22, severely dents the opposition’s campaign and alliance-building efforts in the northeastern state.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma confirmed the development after visiting Borah’s residence in Guwahati on Tuesday evening. Addressing the media, Sarma announced that Borah’s formal induction into the saffron fold will take place under the guidance of Assam BJP President Dilip Saikia, who is currently working out the logistical details of the event. The move has already received the green signal from the BJP’s National President, Nitin Nabin.
“Bhupen Borah will join the BJP on February 22. State president Dilip Saikia is coordinating the process. Along with him, a substantial number of Congress leaders and grassroots workers will also join the party in Guwahati and Lakhimpur,” Sarma informed reporters.
The Chief Minister warmly welcomed his former colleague, framing the defection as a natural transition. He notably described Borah as the “last recognized Hindu leader” left within the Assam Congress ranks, claiming that the opposition party has increasingly alienated mainstream Assamese communities. “Joining the BJP will be like a homecoming for him. Ours is a party of people with simple backgrounds, whose parents did not occupy high political offices. I am confident he will enjoy his new political family,” Sarma added.
Borah’s departure stems from deeply rooted internal friction within the state Congress. Having served as the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president from 2021 to May 2025, Borah was credited with rebuilding the party’s grassroots network after consecutive electoral defeats. However, he was unceremoniously replaced last year by Lok Sabha MP Gaurav Gogoi.
The final breaking point, according to party insiders, was the growing influence of Dhubri MP Rakibul Hussain over candidate selection and alliance strategies. Borah openly expressed his frustration, stating that while he was dedicated to the APCC, he could not work for a faction he dubbed “APCC (R)”—a veiled reference to Hussain’s alleged parallel control over the state unit. Despite last-minute interventions and a telephone call from central leadership urging him to reconsider, Borah stood firm on his decision to exit.
A two-time legislator from the Bihpuria constituency, Borah remains a formidable political force in eastern Assam. He is widely expected to contest the upcoming April elections on a BJP ticket, potentially from Bihpuria or Ranganadi.
For the Congress, losing a veteran leader who served as the chairman of their campaign committee is a devastating setback. It not only creates a massive leadership void but also threatens to unravel the delicate coalition of opposition parties that Borah was instrumental in piecing together to challenge the ruling alliance.
