Speaking to Press Trust of India, Borah said he conveyed his concerns directly to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, telling him he felt humiliated. According to Borah, Gandhi replied that he too had faced humiliation, prompting Borah to question how he could continue if even senior leaders felt similarly sidelined. “I don’t have the capacity to endure so much humiliation,” he said.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma confirmed Borah’s imminent induction into the BJP at a joint press interaction earlier this week. The move signals a significant political shift in the northeastern state, where party alignments often shape electoral outcomes.
Borah also accused state Congress chief Gaurav Gogoi of derailing a proposed opposition alliance ahead of Priyanka Gandhi’s planned visit earlier this month. He claimed a February 9 meeting had tasked him with coordinating a joint announcement, but alleged the plan collapsed because Gogoi feared losing his prospects of becoming chief minister under a coalition arrangement. Gogoi has not publicly responded to the allegation.
Addressing accusations that he accepted money to switch sides, Borah dismissed the claim as baseless, saying even ₹50 crore would be insufficient to build a modern stadium — a project he said his late father had once envisioned. He added that if such an amount were ever offered, he would accept it openly and use it for public infrastructure.
Borah’s departure ends a 32-year association with Congress. He served as Assam Congress president from 2021 to 2025 and was elected MLA twice. Political observers view his exit as a setback for the party, particularly in Upper and North Assam, where he commanded influence among sections of Hindu Assamese voters. Apart from Gogoi and opposition leader Debabrata Saikia, the party now has few prominent regional figures in that demographic.
Analysts say Borah may contest the 2026 assembly election on a BJP ticket, possibly from Bihpuria or Ranganadi. With polls approaching, his defection underscores intensifying political realignments that could reshape Assam’s electoral landscape.
