GUWAHATI: Assam Congress campaign committee chief and former Political Consultative Committee chief Bhupan Bora resigned on Monday for being “neglected”, with party top brass trying to persuade him to hold off on taking a decision amid signs of internal rupture days ahead of a scheduled visit by state general secretary and MP Priyanka Gandhi.Chief Minister Himanta Sarma’s announcement that the BJP would open doors for Bora, with whom he plans to meet on Tuesday, further added to the unease in the Congress. Their history goes way back, having worked together in Congress for many years.Rahul Gandhi joined the firefighting effort and appealed to Bora to reconsider his decision. State Congress president Gaurav Gogoi described Bora as a “pillar of strength and a true MP” and apologized for “any wrong done to him”.Congress sources said Bora sent his resignation letter to AICC chief Mallikarjun Kharge, suggesting that he felt marginalized despite his official mandate to build an opposition alliance. Seat-sharing talks between the Congress and its allies have been postponed.“My old colleagues are at my home. My central leadership has reached out to me and given me some advice. I need time… Whether it is today or tomorrow morning, I will meet Jitendra Singh (AICC’s Assam governor) and convey my final decision,” Bora told reporters after a three-hour meeting with the party delegation.Singh insisted that Bora had withdrawn his resignation, with the latter clarifying that he needed to consult his family.“I have never made public what I wrote in the letter. I have two brothers, a sister and other family members who I need to discuss with,” he said, adding that his brother’s business had suffered due to his involvement in politics.Sarma advised Bora to switch to the BJP and detailed how he would benefit. “We will give him (Borah) a chance to win the state polls and provide him with a safe seat that is easier to win.” Borah, a two-time MLA from Bipriya, led the Congress party in Assam from 2021 to 2025 before being replaced by Gaurav.
