Amit Shah Meets Bhupen Borah in Guwahati Ahead of BJP Induction

New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah met former Assam Pradesh Congress chief Bhupen Borah in Guwahati on Friday, days before his formal entry into the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), that is slated for February 22. According to reports, the meeting lasted for 30 minutes.

Borah had tendered his resignation from the Congress party earlier this week. The meeting was also attended by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and MLA Manab Deka.

Himanta Biswa Sarma, who had earlier been Borah's party colleague, was the first to announce that Borah would be joining the saffron party. 

“We joined the Congress party together. I left sooner. He will join BJP formally on February 22. Many Congress leaders and workers will also join the BJP along with Bhupen Borah," he had earlier said in a press conference.

Bhupen Borah's resignation had sparked a full-blown crisis in the Assam Congress. Top leaders from the grand old party rushed in to his residence in a bid to pacify him and asking him to take back his resignation.

On Tuesday, in an exclusive interview with Republic Media Network Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami, the former president of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC), had explained the reasons behind his dramatic resignation. 

Borah had claimed that the Congress in Assam has been "taken over" by Rakibul Hussain, that has indicated a shift in power dynamics within the party and has sidelined several leaders.

"Gaurav Gogoi is the face and Rakibul Hussain is the base now," he stated.

When asked by Arnab, why Gogoi has become so dependent on Hussain, Borah said, "Gaurav Gogoi became the state party president because of Rakibul Hussain and his next plan is to contest from Nagaon for the next Lok Sabha elections. So, Gogoi needs Rakibul Hussain."

"In entire Congress party, you can ask anybody, the entire family is suffering from mental infighting. This is because all party workers think this is not APCC but APCC (R). This is not the Congress I joined. This is Assam Pradesh Congress Rakibul Hussain," he explained further.

He also blamed Hussain for past electoral losses, citing the rhino poaching scandals of 2016 and the controversial 2021 alliance with the AIUDF. Borah claimed that Hussain is now "dictating" terms within the party.

ALSO READ: 'We Joined Congress Together, I Left Sooner': Himanta Says Bhupen Borah Will Join BJP on February 22