Assam BJP's Bhupen Borah: Congress now a minority-dominated party
Synopsis
Former APCC president Bhupen Borah, now a BJP MLA, has alleged that Congress in Assam has been reduced to a minority-dominated party under Dhubri MP Rakibul Hussain's grip on the APCC — a charge that carries particular weight given Borah's own insider history with the party.
Key Takeaways
Assam BJP leader Bhupen Borah alleged on Sunday that Congress in Assam has become a minority-dominated party.
Borah claimed Dhubri Lok Sabha MP Rakibul Hussain has taken effective control of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) .
He noted that all but one Congress MLA in the Assam Assembly belong to the minority community.
Borah is a former APCC president who switched to BJP and won the Bihpuria Assembly constituency .
He praised Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and credited his leadership for the BJP's electoral gains in the state.
Assam Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Bhupen Borah on Sunday alleged that the Indian National Congress (Congress) in Assam has transformed into a minority-dominated political party, largely under the influence of Dhubri Lok Sabha MP Rakibul Hussain. Borah made the remarks while speaking to reporters in Guwahati, asserting that the party no longer represents all sections of Assamese society.
Borah's Core Allegation
Borah claimed that Rakibul Hussain has effectively taken control of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC), steering the party in a direction that he argues is skewed toward minority representation. "Except for one MLA, all Congress legislators elected to the Assembly belong to the minority community. This clearly shows the direction in which the Congress party in Assam is heading," Borah said.
Notably, Borah himself is a former Congress leader who once served as the president of the APCC before switching to the BJP ahead of the state assembly elections. He subsequently contested on a BJP ticket and won the Bihpuria Assembly constituency.
Praise for CM Himanta Biswa Sarma
The BJP leader also credited Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for the party's growing electoral success in Assam, describing his leadership as a key factor in consolidating voter support. "The people of Assam voted with hope and faith in the BJP-led government. From today, that journey will become even stronger," Borah said.
Borah also referred to earlier political predictions he claimed to have made, saying that recent developments around Hussain's alleged control over the APCC had validated those forecasts. "After what people witnessed recently about Rakibul Hussain's control over the Congress party in Assam, all doubts among the people of the state have disappeared," he added.
BJP's Position in Assam
According to Borah, the BJP government in Assam was formed with the blessings and aspirations of the people, and the party would continue to move ahead with greater strength. This comes amid a broader national narrative of the Congress struggling to retain its traditional voter base in several northeastern states, where the BJP has made significant inroads over the past decade.
The remarks are likely to intensify political exchanges between the BJP and Congress in Assam, particularly as both parties position themselves ahead of future electoral contests in the state.
Point of View
Not necessarily a party-wide ideological shift. The BJP has deployed this narrative across northeastern states to consolidate Hindu-majority voter blocs, and Borah's remarks fit a familiar template. Whether this reflects a genuine organisational concern or is electoral positioning ahead of future contests in Assam is a question mainstream coverage tends to leave unasked.
NationPress
12 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Bhupen Borah say about Congress in Assam?
Bhupen Borah alleged that Congress in Assam has become a minority-dominated party under the influence of Dhubri Lok Sabha MP Rakibul Hussain, who he claims has taken control of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee. He pointed to the fact that all but one Congress MLA in the Assam Assembly belong to the minority community.
Who is Bhupen Borah?
Bhupen Borah is a BJP MLA from the Bihpuria Assembly constituency in Assam and a former president of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee. He switched from Congress to BJP ahead of the state assembly elections.
Who is Rakibul Hussain?
Rakibul Hussain is the Lok Sabha MP from Dhubri in Assam, representing the Congress. Borah has alleged that Hussain has effectively taken control of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC).
Why do Borah's remarks carry political significance?
Borah's remarks carry weight because he is a former APCC president with direct knowledge of the party's internal workings. His defection to BJP and subsequent electoral win in Bihpuria make him a credible, if partisan, voice on Congress's organisational state in Assam.
What is the BJP's current position in Assam?
The BJP, led by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, holds government in Assam and has been strengthening its electoral position in the state. Borah credited Sarma's leadership for the party's growing support among voters.
