By Dipak Kurmi
The Assam unit of the Indian National Congress appears to be navigating one of the most turbulent phases in its recent political history, with internal discord, high-profile resignations, and simmering factional tensions surfacing at a particularly sensitive moment barely two months before the State Assembly elections. The immediate trigger for this fresh wave of instability has been the resignation of former Assam Pradesh Congress Committee president Bhupen Borah, an episode that has exposed deep organisational fissures that many insiders believe had been festering for months. His exit has not only intensified speculation about the party’s electoral preparedness but has also revived longstanding questions about leadership coherence, internal democracy, and the Congress’s ability to remain politically competitive in Assam’s rapidly evolving landscape.
Borah’s resignation letter carries significant political weight because of the two sharply articulated concerns it raises about the functioning of the party’s state unit. First, he pointed to what he described as widespread dissatisfaction within the organisation, alleging that the Assam Congress had effectively come under the disproportionate influence of Member of Parliament Rakibul Hussain. According to Borah, this had created what he termed a “de facto power centre” within the party, one that alienated sections of the leadership and, importantly, segments of the majority community in Assam. His critique went beyond state-level dynamics and extended to the national leadership, suggesting that repeated complaints and internal warnings had failed to elicit timely intervention from the high command. Such assertions, coming from a recently departed state chief, have inevitably amplified perceptions of drift and internal mistrust.
Party insiders indicate that resentment had been building quietly but steadily over several months, driven largely by the perception that Hussain’s influence in organisational matters was expanding with the tacit approval of the central leadership. According to accounts circulating within Congress circles, multiple communications and letters flagging concerns were reportedly sent to the All India Congress Committee, yet these warnings went largely unaddressed. This perceived inaction allowed tensions to harden into open confrontation, ultimately culminating in Borah’s resignation. The episode has once again highlighted a chronic challenge that has historically troubled the Congress in several states: the difficulty of balancing regional leadership autonomy with centralised authority, especially in politically sensitive regions such as Assam where factional alignments often have deep social and electoral implications.
Borah’s decision must also be interpreted through the pragmatic lens of political survival, a factor that often shapes leadership choices in parties experiencing prolonged electoral decline. Having faced successive electoral setbacks in recent years, Borah may have concluded that remaining within the current organisational framework of the Congress could further diminish his political prospects. In Assam’s intensely competitive political environment, where the Bharatiya Janata Party has consolidated significant ground over the past decade, opposition leaders are under mounting pressure to demonstrate both relevance and winnability. Borah’s exit, therefore, may reflect not only ideological or organisational disagreements but also a calculated assessment of the narrowing political space available within the party’s existing structure.
The roots of the present crisis, however, extend beyond this single resignation and can be traced back to the turbulence that followed the panchayat elections last year. During that period, the Assam Congress faced serious allegations regarding irregularities in ticket distribution, including claims of “cash for ticket” arrangements, abrupt withdrawal of officially nominated candidates, and the systematic sidelining of grassroots workers who had long sustained the party’s local networks. These accusations struck at the credibility of the organisation’s internal processes and created visible disillusionment among party cadres. In politically competitive states, such organisational controversies often carry long-term consequences because they erode the trust that binds the rank and file to the leadership.
An inquiry committee constituted to examine the complaints reportedly recommended a series of corrective steps, including fixing accountability, restructuring district-level leadership, and initiating disciplinary action against those found responsible for irregularities. Yet the absence of swift and visible follow-through appears to have deepened the sense of frustration within the party. Many workers interpreted the lack of decisive action as evidence of leadership hesitation or internal protectionism, further weakening morale at a time when the Congress needed to consolidate its base. The perception that serious allegations could be raised without meaningful consequences has also damaged the party’s public image, particularly among voters who increasingly view organisational integrity as a key indicator of political credibility.
Compounding these difficulties are the Congress’s persistent organisational weaknesses at the booth and district levels across Assam. Electoral performance in several constituencies has revealed a troubling pattern in which rebel candidates, contesting as independents after being denied party tickets, reportedly secured more votes than the official Congress nominees. Such outcomes are rarely isolated statistical anomalies; they usually signal deeper structural problems within party machinery, including poor candidate selection, weak grassroots coordination, and the erosion of cadre loyalty. When internal rebels outperform official nominees, it reflects not merely factional dissent but a breakdown of organisational discipline that can take years to repair.
The cumulative effect of these developments has pushed the Assam Congress to a critical crossroads. Internal rivalries remain unresolved, leadership authority appears diffused, and allegations of corruption have clouded the party’s moral positioning at a time when electoral unity is most urgently required. The broader political context makes the situation even more precarious. Over the past decade, Assam’s political terrain has undergone significant realignment, with the ruling BJP successfully expanding its social coalition and organisational reach. In contrast, the Congress has struggled to retain its traditional vote banks while simultaneously attempting to reposition itself as a credible alternative. Without internal cohesion, such strategic repositioning becomes exceedingly difficult.
What makes the present moment particularly consequential is the narrow time window before the Assembly elections. Political parties typically rely on the months preceding an election to project unity, energise workers, and fine-tune booth-level management. Instead, the Congress in Assam finds itself preoccupied with damage control and internal firefighting. Unless the central leadership moves quickly to restore organisational discipline, enforce transparency in ticket distribution, and rebuild trust among grassroots workers, the party risks entering the electoral arena in a visibly weakened state. Political momentum, once lost at the cadre level, is notoriously difficult to regain within a single election cycle.
The path to recovery, though challenging, is not entirely closed. The Congress still retains pockets of committed support in Assam, particularly in regions where its historical organisational networks remain intact. However, revitalising these networks will require more than routine organisational reshuffles. It will demand credible internal reforms, clearer leadership signalling, and a demonstrable willingness to address corruption allegations with transparency and firmness. Equally important will be the projection of a unified state leadership capable of bridging factional divides and reconnecting with disillusioned workers who form the backbone of any effective electoral campaign.
Borah’s resignation should not be viewed as an isolated political episode but as a symptom of a deeper structural malaise within the Assam Congress. Parties often experience internal turbulence, but the long-term consequences depend on how decisively and credibly the leadership responds. If the current warning signs are ignored or addressed only cosmetically, the Congress risks further organisational erosion in a state where political competition is intensifying. The coming weeks will therefore be critical in determining whether the party can arrest the slide and reassert its relevance, or whether the present crisis will mark another chapter in its gradual decline in Assam’s political landscape.
(the writer can be reached at dipakkurmiglpltd@gmail.com)
