Banashree Gogoi quits Congress: Assam leader exits party posts and membership
Synopsis
Senior Assam Congress leader and All India Mahila Congress National Secretary Banashree Gogoi has quit the party entirely — posts and primary membership — weeks after Congress hit its worst-ever tally of 19 seats in the Assam Assembly. With a former state Congress president also having crossed over to the BJP, the party's organisational spine in Assam is visibly crumbling.
Key Takeaways
Banashree Gogoi , National Secretary of the All India Mahila Congress , resigned from all posts and primary membership of the Indian National Congress on 15 May .
Her resignation letter was addressed to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge , with copies to Alka Lamba and Gaurav Gogoi .
Congress won just 19 seats in the recent Assam Assembly election — its worst-ever state result.
The BJP alone won 82 of 126 seats ; the BJP-led NDA secured 102 seats in total.
Former Assam Congress President Bhupen Kumar Borah had earlier defected to the BJP and won the Bihpuria seat.
Banashree Gogoi, a senior Assam Congress leader and National Secretary of the All India Mahila Congress, has resigned from all party posts and her primary membership of the Indian National Congress (INC), dealing a fresh blow to an already weakened opposition in the state. Her resignation letter, addressed to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, was submitted on Friday, 15 May, and took effect immediately.
What Gogoi Said in Her Resignation
In her letter, Gogoi stated: 'I hereby tender my resignation from all posts, responsibilities, and the Primary Membership of the Indian National Congress with immediate effect.' She expressed gratitude to the party leadership for the opportunities she received during her tenure, adding that she would 'continue to work for the people of Assam and the nation in my personal capacity.'
Copies of the resignation were marked to All India Mahila Congress President Alka Lamba and Assam Pradesh Congress Committee president Gaurav Gogoi. She also requested that the party accept her resignation and relieve her of all organisational duties at the earliest.
The Political Context in Assam
The resignation comes in the aftermath of a bruising Assam Assembly election in which the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) secured a commanding 102 seats in the 126-member Assembly. The BJP alone won 82 seats, while Congress was reduced to just 19 seats — widely described as the party's worst-ever performance in the state.
Regional parties including the Bodoland People's Front (BPF) and the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) secured 10 seats each. The All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) and Raijor Dal won 2 seats each, while the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) managed a single seat.
Former Congress Chief Adds to the Pressure
Notably, Gogoi's exit follows sharp criticism from Bhupen Kumar Borah, a former Assam Congress President who switched to the BJP ahead of the Assembly polls and won the Bihpuria Assembly constituency on a BJP ticket. Addressing reporters on Wednesday, Borah said Congress was 'reaping what it had sown' after its crushing defeat.
Borah credited Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for the BJP's electoral sweep, saying: 'I must admit that under the leadership of Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma, Assam has witnessed unprecedented political success. The people have once again placed their faith in his leadership.'
What This Means for Congress in Assam
The departure of a national-level office-bearer like Gogoi signals deepening organisational distress within the Assam Congress. This is at least the second high-profile exit from the state unit in recent months, raising questions about the party's ability to rebuild ahead of future electoral cycles. With the BJP consolidating its hold over the state and defections continuing, the Congress faces a structural challenge that goes beyond electoral arithmetic.
Whether Gogoi's next political move involves joining another party or remaining independent remains to be seen, though her resignation letter's forward-looking language — 'in my personal capacity' — leaves options open.
Point of View
Not the cause, of Congress's Assam collapse. When a national-level office-bearer resigns primary membership — not just a post — it signals that the party's organisational contract has broken down, not merely its electoral fortunes. The timing, following Borah's defection and a historic 19-seat low, suggests the state unit lacks both a credible leader and a coherent rebuild plan. The BJP's 82-seat haul has not just won an election — it has hollowed out the opposition's bench strength, making recovery a multi-cycle project at best.
NationPress
7 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Banashree Gogoi and why did she resign from Congress?
Banashree Gogoi is a senior Assam Congress leader who served as National Secretary of the All India Mahila Congress. She resigned from all party posts and her primary membership on 15 May, stating the decision was with immediate effect, though she did not publicly cite a specific grievance beyond requesting to be relieved of all organisational duties.
How did Congress perform in the recent Assam Assembly election?
Congress won just 19 seats in the 126-member Assam Assembly, its worst-ever performance in the state. The BJP alone won 82 seats, and the BJP-led NDA secured a combined 102 seats.
Who else has left Assam Congress recently?
Former Assam Congress President Bhupen Kumar Borah switched to the BJP ahead of the Assembly polls and won the Bihpuria constituency on a BJP ticket. He has since publicly criticised his former party, saying Congress was 'reaping what it had sown.'
What did Banashree Gogoi say in her resignation letter?
Gogoi stated she was resigning from all posts, responsibilities, and primary membership of the Indian National Congress with immediate effect. She expressed gratitude for opportunities received and said she would continue working for the people of Assam in a personal capacity.
What is the current political situation in Assam?
The BJP-led NDA holds a dominant majority with 102 of 126 Assembly seats, with Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma credited for the sweep. Congress, regional parties BPF and AGP (10 seats each), AIUDF and Raijor Dal (2 each), and TMC (1 seat) make up the remainder of the House.
