Assam polls: Prateek Bordoloi quits as Congress candidate after father Pradyut joins BJP

Prateek Bordoloi, the Congress’s candidate from Margherita, expressed faith in the Congress’s ideals, and said he will continue to work for it.

Updated on: Mar 19, 2026, 13:58:21 IST

By Utpal Parashar

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Prateek Bordoloi, the Congress’s candidate from Margherita for next month’s Assam assembly polls, opted out of the contest even as he expressed faith in the party’s ideals, and said he will continue to work for it. The move came hours after his father, Pradyut Bordoloi, defected to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Prateek Bordoloi cited changed circumstances following his father’s defection and said he decided to quit as a candidate. (Instagram/@Prateek.Bordoloi )

Prateek Bordoloi cited changed circumstances following his father’s defection and said he decided to quit as a candidate. He expressed his desire to continue working for the Congress. “In the present circumstances, following my father’s decision to join another political party, I feel it would not be appropriate for me to continue as a candidate,” he wrote in a letter to Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday.

“I believe the people of Margherita and the countless dedicated Congress workers deserve absolute clarity and confidence in the party’s candidate. It would be unfair to them if any confusion or perception arises regarding my commitment or the party’s position.” Prateek Bordoloi said he will continue to work in whatever capacity the Congress leadership deems appropriate.

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A post shared by Prateek Bordoloi (@prateek.bordoloi)

On Wednesday, Pradyut Bordoloi said he asked his son to make his own decision about what to do without being influenced by his move to join the BJP. State Congress chief Gaurav Gogoi expressed sympathy and moral support for Prateek Bordoloi.

Pradyut Bordoloi joined the BJP after resigning as the Congress Parliament member from Assam’s Nagaon.

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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