Assam Congress Hit By High-Profile Exit Just Weeks Before Assembly Elections

The Congress party in Assam is facing a severe internal crisis just weeks ahead of the April 9 Assembly elections, as high-profile resignations threaten to undermine its electoral prospects. The latest setback comes with Nagaon MP Pradyut Bordoloi ending his three-decade-long association with the party to join the BJP, following the resignation of former state Congress president Bhupen Kumar Borah last month. Bordoloi’s exit is reportedly linked to dissatisfaction over candidate selection in the Laharighat constituency, highlighting lingering factional tensions within the party.

The departures strike at a critical moment for the Congress, which has struggled to rebuild its position in Assam since losing power to the BJP in 2016. Once dominant in the state under former Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, the party has been reduced to a shadow of its former strength, though recent successes such as Gaurav Gogoi’s 2024 Lok Sabha victory briefly suggested a potential revival. However, the resignations of senior leaders have dampened momentum, casting doubt on the party’s ability to present a united front against the BJP.

Internal factionalism, defections, and alleged lobby-driven politics have long plagued the Assam Congress, and the upcoming elections have amplified these challenges. The party’s efforts to form a broad opposition alliance have also faltered, with Raijor Dal and the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) contesting independently, leaving the Congress-led coalition fragmented at a critical juncture. Analysts say this disunity could hinder its ability to counter the BJP’s entrenched support in Upper Assam, which holds 27 of the state’s 126 seats.

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The situation in Assam reflects broader organizational weaknesses across the Congress nationally. Recent setbacks in the Rajya Sabha elections revealed lapses in discipline, with cross-voting and absenteeism by party legislators in states such as Bihar, Haryana, and Odisha contributing to defeats in closely contested seats. In Haryana, five MLAs defied the party line; in Bihar, the absence of half its legislators allowed the NDA to sweep all five Rajya Sabha seats; and in Odisha, three MLAs supported NDA-backed candidates, prompting expulsions.

Candidate selection disputes further expose internal tensions. Despite efforts by senior leaders to manage ticket distribution smoothly, disagreements persist in multiple states, including Kerala, where rivals have used these divisions to question the party’s stability ahead of upcoming polls. With less than three weeks remaining before the Assam elections, Congress faces the urgent task of restoring cohesion, maintaining morale, and convincing voters of its readiness to govern.

Observers warn that unless the party resolves its internal rifts quickly, its ability to compete effectively against the BJP could be severely compromised, signaling a potentially difficult election for the Congress both in Assam and nationally.

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