‘Gaurav Gogoi humiliated me over alliance talks’: Bhupen Borah to join BJP after dramatic exit from Congress

Bhupen Kumar Borah’s exit from the Congress party and entry into the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is likely to redefine the political landscape in the state of Assam ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections. Former Assam Congress chief Borah confirmed quitting the Congress party yesterday and addressed a press conference with Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma. Sarma announced that Borah will join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on 22 February.

“Bhupen Borah will join the BJP on 22nd February. Dilip Saikia will work out the details. Along with him, a good number of Congress leaders will join the BJP in Guwahati and North Lakhimpur. He is the last recognised Hindu leader in Congress. Our National President Nitin Nabin has already approved his joining and welcomes him,” said the Assam CM.

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#WATCH | Guwahati | Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma says, “… Bhupen Borah will join BJP on 22nd February. Dilip Saikia will work out the details. Along with him, a good number of Congress leaders will join the BJP in Guwahati and North Lakhimpur … He is the last recognised Hindu… pic.twitter.com/IO8ErSW9iu

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— ANI (@ANI) February 17, 2026

After making the major political shift, Borah today alleged that Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi humiliated him over alliance talks. He said that he began discussions with all relevant parties, but claimed that on February 11, Gaurav Gogoi instructed him to include AIUDF leader Rakibul Hussain in the talks. Despite his efforts to coordinate with multiple parties, Borah claimed that on February 13, Gogoi accused him of creating a misunderstanding in front of others.

Borah further alleged that LoP Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi did not address his concern even after he approached him and expressed that he could not tolerate such humiliation. He said, “I even told Rahul Gandhi that I couldn’t tolerate such humiliation. But no one said anything.”

#WATCH | Guwahati: On his resignation from the Congress, Bhupen Kumar Borah said, “I gave 32 years to the Congress party. Congress made me from an MLA to APCC President… When I became president in 2021, Congress was in alliance with AIUDF. I broke the alliance. After that,… pic.twitter.com/mZ5iEkHHes

— ANI (@ANI) February 18, 2026

Meanwhile, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi accused Sarma of influencing Bhupen Borah’s defection to the BJP, claiming the move exposed Sarma’s real estate interests and political desperation.

“There were many rumours regarding the close relationship between Himanta Biswa Sarma and Bhupen Bora. We tried our best not to believe these rumours and speculation. We always wondered how information about confidential meetings came to a particular journalist close to Himanta Biswa Sarma. These rumours have come out to be true…A day after resigning from Congress, Bhupen Borah had no qualms about joining the BJP and surrendering to Himanta Biswa Sarma.

#WATCH | Guwahati, Assam | On Bhupen Borah’s resignation from Congress, party leader Gaurav Gogoi says, “There were many rumours regarding the close relationship between Himanta Biswa Sarma and Bhupen Bora. We tried our best not to believe these rumours and speculation. We always… pic.twitter.com/PdiQWPLBRA

— ANI (@ANI) February 18, 2026