Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday welcomed the reported resignation of former Assam Congress president Bhupen Borah from the Indian National Congress and said he would visit Borah’s residence on February 17 to discuss his future political course.

Speaking to media persons, the Chief Minister said, “I will visit Bhupen Borah’s residence tomorrow and have a discussion on his future political vision.” He added that Borah had already been informed about the proposed visit and had welcomed the move.

Sarma said the Bharatiya Janata Party was open to Borah if he chose to join. He also indicated that the party could offer him a “safe seat” to contest elections from, if he decided to switch sides.

CM targets Congress over internal dynamics

Taking a swipe at the Congress, the Chief Minister said Borah’s resignation reflected deeper dissatisfaction within the party. He described Borah as the “last Hindu leader” in the Congress who did not come from a political family with parents who were ministers or MLAs.

Sarma claimed the party’s condition was “terrible” and alleged that internal dynamics were changing. He also said that Congress district-level meetings often began with prayers associated with “a particular community.”

The Chief Minister said Borah’s resignation carried a symbolic message about the Congress’s approach to leaders from non-political backgrounds.

“His resignation carries the symbolic message that in the Congress, no one from a normal family can prosper. Congress does not give recognition to people from ordinary families. I hail from an ordinary middle-class family, and the BJP has made me a chief minister. We stay opposite to the politics of blue blood,” Sarma said.

He further alleged that the Congress was fielding minority candidates in constituencies where Hindus formed the majority.

Sarma predicted that more leaders could leave the Congress in the coming days.

“I can foresee more leaders quitting Congress, irrespective of whether they join the BJP,” he said.

Borah’s political journey

Soon after submitting his resignation, Borah removed his Congress designation from his profile on X, a move widely seen as an indication of his departure from the party.

Borah has had a long association with the Congress in Assam. He represented the Bishnupur constituency as a Congress MLA from 2006 to 2016 and later emerged as a key organisational leader in the state. On July 24, 2021, he was appointed president of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee during a challenging period for the party.

His tenure as state Congress chief coincided with efforts to rebuild the organisation after successive electoral setbacks. His reported resignation now adds uncertainty to the party’s preparations ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.