E-Paper
Assam: Hours after resigning ex-Congress chief, Bhupen Borah says ‘reconsidering decision’
The 55-year-old stated that he has submitted his resignation letter to the Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leader Rahul Gandhi
Former Assam Congress president Bhupen Kumar Borah on Monday sought time from the party leadership to rethink his resignation from the party, following the Congress high-command's decision not to accept his resignation and requesting him to withdraw it.
The 55-year-old had tendered his resignation to party's national president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday morning ahead of the coming assembly polls in Assam leading to a panic situation in the state Congress with several leaders rushing to his Guwahati home to urge him to take back his decision.
Senior Congress leader and party in-charge for Assam, Jitendra Singh, Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi, the party's leader of opposition in state assembly, Debabrata Saikia and several others requested Borah not to resign from the party at such a crucial juncture.
"I had joined Congress in 1994 and over the past 32 years people of Assam have witnessed what I have done for the party. But for some time now, I saw that my suggestions were not taken seriously. I had also informed the party leadership about it. But when nothing was done, I decided to resign," Borah said at his residence flanked by senior Congress leaders.
"Now the party's central and state leadership has informed me that my resignation hasn't been accepted and asked me to reconsider. I have told them that I will need to consult with my family members and have sought time till tomorrow to take a decision on their request," he added.
He refused to comment on speculations that he might join the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and also if any demand has been placed before the Congress leadership to take back his resignation.
"Borah has been a senior party leader who has been with us for over 30 years. He had submitted his resignation earlier today to the party's national leader. Congress is like a family and when there's differences we sit down and find a solution," said Jitendra Singh.
"Borah's resignation hasn't been accepted by the party leadership and Rahul Gandhi had a 15 minute talk with him over phone. I thank him for accepting our request to take back his resignation," he added minutes before Borah said that he is yet to decide on the Congress request.
Borah, who was replaced in May last year, and the position of state president handed to Lok Sabha MP Gaurav Gogoi, was heading the party's unit to try and forge an alliance with other opposition parties in the state to take on the ruling BJP from a common platform. But he was stated to be unhappy with the sudden inclusion of Lok Sabha MP from Dhubri, Rakibul Hussain, in the same committee few days ago.
"Borah is a senior and invaluable leader for the party and if some decisions taken by us unconsciously have hurt him, I had apologised to him and requested to forgive us as an elder brother. In future, we will take his guidance on how to strengthen the party," said Congress president Gaurav Gogoi.
Chief minister Sarma's take on the situation
Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had earlier stated that Borah's exit from Congress was expected the day he was removed from the president's post by appointing Gaurav Gogoi, the son of former chief minister Tarun Gogoi.
"It has become clear that to survive in Assam Congress one has to have an illustrious father or be a member of the minority community. Since Borah was neither he was getting sidelined while Gaurav Gogoi and Rakibul Hussain were getting stronger. It was no surprise that Borah resigned," said Sarma.
The CM said that he was not in touch with Borah prior to the resignation, but would meet him on Tuesday and discuss future prospects.
"If Borah decides to join Congress, the BJP will try and give him a ticket for the coming assembly polls and also ensure that he registers a win," said Sarma while predicting the exit of leader of opposition, Debabrata Saikia, and Lok Sabha MP, Pradyut Bordoloi, from the Congress in the next few years.
