Assam: Congress leader quits as opposition bloc head over by-poll seat-sharing

The resignation on Wednesday followed Congress’s announcement of former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Jayanta Borah as its candidate for the Behali seat

Published on: Oct 24, 2024, 11:08:09 IST

By Utpal Parashar

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State Congress chief Bhupen Kumar Borah has resigned as the head of the 1-party opposition Assam Sanmilita Morcha (ASOM) citing “tremendous pressure” to leave one of the five seats going to the by-polls next month for the Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) Liberation or CPI(ML).

Assam Congress chief Bhupen Kumar Borah. (X)

The resignation on Wednesday followed Congress’s announcement of former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Jayanta Borah as its candidate for the Behali seat. A five-member ASOM panel recommended four seats for the Congress and Behali for the CPI(ML).

The state Congress chief cited the recommendation and said he tried his best to give the Behali seat to CPI(M). “But Congress central leadership felt that we should put our candidate.” He added they needed to give and take to oust the ruling BJP from power.

The Congress’s move to field Jayanta Borah prompted the other 17 ASOM parties to announce they would contest the Behali seat separately.

Assam Jatiya Parishad chief and ASOM general secretary Lurinjyoti Gogoi called for unity among opposition parties to defeat the BJP. “Congress should realise that even 1% or 2% votes matter in an election.”

People aware of the matter said a section within Congress including the state chief favoured giving the Behali seat to CPI(ML). But Parliament member Gaurav Gogoi backed the candidature of Jayanat Borah, who will join Congress on Thursday.

Bhupen Kumar Borah said he may have a different opinion but the central leadership takes the final call in a national party like Congress. “I gave my best to maintain unity in the opposition bloc.” He said he still hopes all opposition parties will contest the 2026 assembly polls together.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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