Assam BJP MLA Bhupen Borah: Rahul Gandhi rejected by people repeatedly
Synopsis
A former Assam Congress chief who crossed over to the BJP and won the Bihpuria seat is now among the party's sharpest critics of Rahul Gandhi — arguing that Gandhi's language against PM Modi is making him 'even less acceptable' to voters. The remarks underline how defectors can become the most potent voices against their former parties.
Key Takeaways
Bhupen Kumar Borah , newly elected BJP MLA from Bihpuria , Assam, attacked Rahul Gandhi on 22 May over remarks targeting PM Modi .
Borah claimed Gandhi has been 'repeatedly rejected' by the Indian electorate in his bid to become Prime Minister.
He argued Gandhi's language against Modi is further damaging the Congress leader's political acceptability.
Borah is a former President of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) who switched to the BJP before the Assam Assembly polls.
The BJP-led NDA won a decisive mandate in the Assam Assembly elections , with Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma set to continue in office.
Bhupen Kumar Borah, the newly elected Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA from Bihpuria constituency in Assam, on Friday, 22 May launched a pointed attack on Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, over his recent remarks targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Speaking to reporters in Guwahati, Borah argued that Gandhi has consistently failed to secure the trust of the Indian electorate.
Borah's Remarks on Rahul Gandhi
Borah stated that Gandhi's long-standing ambition to lead the country as Prime Minister had been repeatedly denied by voters. 'Rahul Gandhi wanted to become the Prime Minister of the country. He could not become Prime Minister because the people of the country do not want him in that position,' Borah said. The BJP MLA further argued that Gandhi's choice of language while criticising the Prime Minister was eroding his own political standing. 'He is becoming even less acceptable to the people because of the kind of words he uses against our Prime Minister,' Borah remarked.
Modi's Third Term Cited as Public Mandate
Narendra Modi's return to power for a third consecutive term was held up by Borah as evidence of the public's confidence in the Prime Minister's leadership. 'Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister of the country three times because the people of the country wanted him to lead India,' he added. The assertion reflects a broader BJP narrative that frames electoral outcomes as a direct referendum on Gandhi's political credibility.
Borah's Political Journey: Congress to BJP
Borah's remarks carry added political weight given his own trajectory. A former President of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC), Borah quit the Indian National Congress (Congress) ahead of the recently concluded Assam Assembly elections and joined the BJP. The switch drew considerable attention in Assam's political circles. The BJP fielded him from the Bihpuria Assembly constituency, where he went on to win.
BJP-Led NDA Sweeps Assam Polls
The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) secured a decisive mandate in the Assam Assembly elections, clearing the path for the formation of a new government under Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. The victory has emboldened BJP leaders in the state to take a more aggressive posture against the Opposition, with Borah's remarks being among the more direct salvos in the post-election political discourse.
Broader Political Context
This comes amid an ongoing war of words between the BJP and Congress at the national level, with Rahul Gandhi having made several public statements critical of the Modi government in recent weeks. BJP leaders across states have responded in kind, using Gandhi's electoral record as a counterpoint. Notably, this is not the first time a former Congress leader — now in the BJP — has turned the sharpest criticism on his former party chief.
Point of View
And this instance follows that template. What the mainstream coverage tends to underplay is the irony: Borah himself was a senior Congress figure until recently, which raises the question of whether this is genuine conviction or the price of a political ticket. The broader pattern — of former Congressmen becoming the loudest BJP voices against Gandhi — is worth watching as a structural feature of Indian opposition politics, not just a one-off soundbite.
NationPress
7 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Bhupen Kumar Borah and why are his remarks significant?
Bhupen Kumar Borah is a newly elected BJP MLA from the Bihpuria constituency in Assam and a former President of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC). His remarks are significant because he is a high-profile Congress defector who crossed over to the BJP before the Assam Assembly elections and won, making his criticism of Rahul Gandhi politically pointed.
What did Borah say about Rahul Gandhi?
Borah said that Rahul Gandhi had long aspired to become Prime Minister but had been 'repeatedly rejected' by the people of India. He also argued that Gandhi's choice of words while targeting PM Modi was making him 'even less acceptable' to the public.
What was the outcome of the Assam Assembly elections?
The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) secured a decisive mandate in the Assam Assembly elections, paving the way for Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to continue in office. Borah himself won from the Bihpuria constituency on a BJP ticket.
Why did Bhupen Borah leave the Congress and join the BJP?
According to reports, Borah quit the Congress ahead of the Assam Assembly elections and joined the BJP, which then fielded him from Bihpuria. The switch drew considerable attention in Assam's political circles, given his seniority as a former APCC president.
What is the context of Rahul Gandhi's remarks that triggered this response?
Rahul Gandhi, in his capacity as Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, had made recent public remarks critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. BJP leaders across the country, including Borah, responded by citing Gandhi's electoral record and arguing his criticism lacks public backing.
