Senior Assam Congress leader and Nagaon Member of Parliament Pradyut Bordoloi officially resigned from the party on Tuesday, dealing a significant blow to the opposition just weeks before the state’s assembly elections.
Bordoloi submitted his resignation to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, citing an “overwhelming sense of sadness” alongside allegations of constant humiliation from state leadership.
The departure of the 66-year-old veteran, who served four consecutive terms as a Member of the Legislative Assembly and held multiple ministerial portfolios, fractures the party’s infrastructure in Upper Assam.
Congress on verge of losing one of its tallest leaders in Assam, Pradyut Bordoloi shoots resignation letter to Kharge https://t.co/LcjDMqCLC7
— The Indian Express (@IndianExpress) March 18, 2026
Bordoloi publicly directed his grievances at Assam Congress President Gaurav Gogoi, accusing him of orchestrating insults. The immediate catalyst for the exit was a dispute regarding candidate selection for the Laharighat Assembly constituency.
According to Bordoloi, he opposed the renomination of sitting MLA Asif Mohammad Nazar. Bordoloi alleged that Nazar provided shelter to an individual responsible for a violent mob attack on Bordoloi’s convoy in April 2025.
The resignation follows an open invitation from Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for Bordoloi to join the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. Sarma indicated the party would accommodate Bordoloi’s political stature, potentially offering him the Dispur constituency. Bordoloi confirmed receiving an offer from the highest levels of the BJP, though his formal induction has not been finalized as of Wednesday morning local time.
This development mirrors recent defections within the regional opposition. Last month, former Assam Congress chief Bhupen Kumar Borah also resigned from the party over “self-respect” issues to align with the BJP.
The ongoing defections present a critical logistical challenge for opposition forces navigating the complex political dynamics of the world‘s largest democracy. The state is scheduled to vote for all 126 assembly seats in a single phase on April 9, 2026.