Rajen Gohain quits AJP, four-time Nagaon MP exits active politics
Synopsis
Rajen Gohain — four-time Nagaon MP and former Union Minister of State for Railways — has walked out of a second party in quick succession, this time the Assam Jatiya Parishad, saying he is done with politics entirely. The exit of one of Central Assam's most prominent faces raises uncomfortable questions about the AJP's capacity to hold together the coalition of leaders it assembled after the anti-CAA movement.
Key Takeaways
Rajen Gohain resigned from the Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) on 19 May 2025 , citing personal reasons.
He stepped down from both primary membership and all party responsibilities with immediate effect .
Gohain represented the Nagaon Lok Sabha constituency four times ( 1999, 2004, 2014, 2019 ) as a BJP candidate.
He served as Union Minister of State for Railways during PM Modi's first term.
Gohain had joined the AJP after quitting the BJP ahead of the 2026 Assam Assembly elections but lost his seat on an AJP ticket.
The veteran leader has stated he has no plans to return to active politics .
Former Union Minister and four-time Lok Sabha member Rajen Gohain resigned from the Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) on Tuesday, 19 May, citing personal reasons and stating that he has no intention of returning to active politics. The resignation, addressed to AJP President Lurinjyoti Gogoi, takes effect immediately.
What the Resignation Letter Said
In his letter, Gohain formally stepped down from the party's primary membership and all associated responsibilities. “Through this letter, I, Rajen Gohain, hereby resign from the primary membership and from all posts and responsibilities associated with the Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) with immediate effect due to personal reasons,” the letter read. He also thanked the party leadership, workers, and supporters for their cooperation during his tenure with the outfit.
A Career Spanning Four Lok Sabha Terms
Gohain is one of Assam's most recognisable political figures, having represented the Nagaon Lok Sabha constituency four times — in 1999, 2004, 2014, and 2019 — as a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate. The Nagaon seat was long considered a BJP stronghold, and Gohain was instrumental in building the party's organisational network across Upper and Central Assam. During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's first term, he served as Union Minister of State for Railways.
From BJP to AJP — and Now Out
His departure from the BJP came amid deteriorating relations with the party leadership ahead of the 2026 Assam Assembly elections. He subsequently joined the Assam Jatiya Parishad, a regional outfit formed in the wake of the anti-CAA movement in Assam. Gohain contested the recently concluded Assembly elections on an AJP ticket but suffered defeat — a result that reportedly weighed on his decision to step back from public life.
Political Fallout and What Comes Next
His exit from the AJP is likely to fuel fresh speculation about his political future, even as Gohain himself has been unequivocal. “I am not thinking of returning to politics,” he said after submitting his resignation. Notably, this marks the second major party exit for the veteran leader within a short span, raising questions about the AJP's ability to retain senior figures drawn from the anti-CAA movement's political energy. Whether Gohain's departure signals a broader churn within the regional party remains to be seen.
Point of View
And it exposes a structural fragility in the AJP's coalition. The party was built on the energy of the anti-CAA movement, but attracting established BJP veterans — and then losing them — suggests it has struggled to offer a compelling political home beyond protest identity. Gohain's defeat in the Assembly elections is the proximate cause here, but the deeper question is whether the AJP can consolidate as a durable regional force or whether it becomes a transit lounge for leaders between BJP stints. Assam's political landscape has seen such cycles before; the difference now is that the BJP's organisational grip on Central Assam looks firmer than ever, leaving little space for a credible regional challenger.
NationPress
22 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Rajen Gohain resign from the Assam Jatiya Parishad?
Gohain cited personal reasons in his resignation letter submitted on 19 May 2025 to AJP President Lurinjyoti Gogoi. He also stated that he is not considering a return to active politics.
Who is Rajen Gohain and what is his political background?
Rajen Gohain is a veteran politician from Central Assam who won the Nagaon Lok Sabha seat four times — in 1999, 2004, 2014, and 2019 — as a BJP candidate. He served as Union Minister of State for Railways during PM Narendra Modi's first term and was a key figure in building the BJP's organisational network in Upper and Central Assam.
Why did Rajen Gohain leave the BJP?
His relations with the BJP leadership reportedly deteriorated ahead of the 2026 Assam Assembly elections, prompting him to quit the party and join the newly formed Assam Jatiya Parishad, which emerged from the anti-CAA movement in Assam.
What happens to the AJP after Gohain's resignation?
Gohain's exit is expected to trigger political speculation in Assam. It marks the departure of one of the AJP's most senior figures and raises questions about the party's ability to retain established leaders, though the AJP has not yet issued a formal response.
Will Rajen Gohain return to the BJP?
Gohain has not indicated any plan to rejoin the BJP or any other party. He stated clearly after resigning that he is not thinking of returning to politics, though his exit from the AJP has inevitably prompted speculation about his next move.
