Borah said he had initially stepped down after 32 years in the party, citing feelings of neglect and lack of respect from sections of the state leadership. However, he agreed to withdraw his resignation after persuasion by leaders including MP Gaurav Gogoi, who visited his residence along with other senior figures. Gogoi described Borah as “a strong pillar of the party” and publicly apologized if any actions had caused him hurt.
The development followed outreach by the All India Congress Committee’s state in-charge, who indicated that internal consultations were held to address Borah’s concerns. Party insiders said the leadership was keen to avoid internal dissent at a time when organizational unity is considered critical ahead of polls expected in March–April for the state’s 126 Assembly seats.
The episode also triggered political reactions outside the Congress. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma claimed he had invited Borah to join the Bharatiya Janata Party, saying he would be offered a “safe seat” if he switched sides. The remark added to speculation about Borah’s future, though opposition leaders dismissed the possibility of his defection.
Meanwhile, political churn continued within the opposition camp. Three-time MLA Abdul Rashid Mandal announced he was leaving Congress to join the Raijor Dal, stating he intended to strengthen regional opposition politics. A Congress spokesperson later said Mandal had not yet formally submitted his resignation, leaving his status unclear.
Borah previously served as Assam Congress president from 2021 to 2025 and is regarded as an influential grassroots organizer. Analysts say his brief resignation underscored simmering factional tensions within the state unit, a recurring challenge for the party in the Northeast.
For now, his decision to stay is expected to stabilize the organization and allow it to focus on electoral preparations. Whether the underlying grievances that prompted his resignation have been resolved remains uncertain, but party leaders hope the truce will hold as campaigning intensifies in the coming weeks.
