Guwahati: The Congress in Assam received a rude jolt on Monday, as former state unit chief Bhupen Borah resigned ahead of the Assembly polls in the state, but later sought time to reconsider his decision after the high command rejected it.
Besides, three-time sitting MLA Abdur Rashid Mandal also left the Congress and joined another Opposition constituent Raijor Dal.
Borah’s resignation letter, claiming he was “ignored” by the leadership, triggered a political storm in the state, with the party’s high command claiming that he has withdrawn it, while the leader requested time to reconsider it. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma extended an open invitation to him to join the BJP.
Later in the day, Mandal, representing Goalpara West constituency, joined the Raijor Dal in presence of its chief Akhil Gogoi.
“I am happy to join the growing Raijor Dal under Gogoi. I am looking forward to strengthening his hands as a simple worker,” Mandal said at the joining function.
An Assam Congress spokesperson, however, told PTI that Mandal has not submitted a resignation letter to the party.
Regarding Bora who is also the party’s election campaign committee chairman, AICC state in-charge Jitendra Singh claimed that he has withdrawn his resignation letter following intervention by the party brass, including president Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leader Rahul Gandhi.
“The party leadership has discussed the matter with Borah. Rahul Gandhi also spoke to him for 15 minutes,’’ Singh told reporters here outside Borah’s house.
‘’This is our internal matter; we discussed in detail about the issues bothering him, and I thank him for agreeing to withdraw his resignation,’’ he said.
Emerging from his residence, Borah, however, said he has sought time from the high command to reconsider his decision.
‘’My old colleagues and the party’s central leadership came to my house, and I respect them. I have sought time till tomorrow morning so that I can talk to my family and take a decision in this regard,’’ the 55-year-old leader said.
Besides Singh, Assam unit chief Gaurav Gogoi, MP Pradyut Bordoloi, leader of the opposition in the Assembly Debabrata Saikia and other party MLAs, met Borah at his residence, after he sent a letter to the party high command, announcing his resignation.
Gaurav Gogoi said Borah was a ‘’pillar of strength’’ for the party, and he has always raised his voice against the negative forces active in the state.
