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Bhupen Kumar Borah, who had been in the Congress for 32 years, formally joined the BJP today at the party’s headquarters in Guwahati ahead of state elections.
Ex-Assam Congress Chief Bhupen Kumar Borah (Centre) joined the BJP on Sunday. (PTI)
Former Assam Congress Chief Bhupen Kumar Borah, who formally joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday at the party’s headquarters in Guwahati, said he felt humiliated by leaders within the party after stepping down and pledged to devote his political career to serving the people of the state.
Borah joined the BJP at the Vajpayee Bhawan in the presence of BJP President Dilip Saikia and Baijayant Panda. Young Congress leaders, including Sanju Baruah and Sarbanarayan Deori, also joined the BJP. The development comes as the 126-member Assam Assembly is set to undergo assembly polls later this year.
While leaving his residence for the BJP office, Borah said more Congress members will join the BJP after the party releases the names of candidates for the upcoming polls.
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“I did not resign to join the BJP. had hoped that my leaders would introspect and correct themselves, but that did not happen. I felt neglected and humiliated, but then Assam CM reached out to me. Whatever time remains in my political career, I will dedicate it to serving my state and its people, if the party provides me a platform,” he said.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has publicly assured that Bhupen Borah will contest on a BJP ticket in the upcoming election. According to sources, Borah will be contesting from Bihpuria, which is Borah’s home constituency in Lakhimpur district, and he had been MLA on two occasions on behalf of the Congress party.
Assam Congress Downplays Switch
Meanwhile, Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Assam assembly, Debabrata Saikia, on Sunday downplayed concerns over Borah joining the BJP, saying it would not hurt the party’s prospects in the upcoming elections.
Saikia said Borah’s departure would not impact the party as local leaders and workers from his constituency had chosen to stay back. “It will not cause any harm because the leaders and workers of his constituency, from where he had been preparing to contest for the last three years, did not decide to go with him. They said that even if he leaves, we will remain in Congress. Therefore, we will not suffer any harm,” he told news agency ANI.
Bhupen Borah had been in the Congress party for the last 32 years. He served as a member of the Assam Legislative Assembly for two consecutive terms between 2006 and 2016. In 2013, he was named president of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee.
Borah quit the party this week, citing party MP Rakibul Hussain as a major reason behind his decision. Borah alleged that the reins of the Assam Congress were in the hands of Hussain and that Gaurav Gogoi was merely a figurehead.
Guwahati [Gauhati], India, India
February 22, 2026, 17:23 IST
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