Guwahati: A sharp internal rift has erupted in Assam Congress after former state PCC president Bhupen Kumar Borah and several ticket aspirants resigned, with Nagaon MP Pradyut Bordoloi now writing to the party high command alleging he was sidelined and humiliated.Bordoloi, a three-time cabinet minister in the previous Congress-led govt, accused party MLA from Lahorighat Asif Nazar of backing a man he says was involved in an attack on his convoy during last year’s panchayat election campaign in Dhing.He said he was attacked by a group of 25 miscreants while campaigning for the party and initially believed BJP was behind it. On Monday, however, he alleged that Imdadul Islam, accused in the attack, acted at Nazar’s direction. Bordoloi further claimed that after securing bail, Islam was welcomed by Nazar.“A few days later, Nazar brought Islam to Gaurav Gogoi’s home where Islam was honoured. I told Gaurav that it was an insult to me,” Bordoloi alleged.Bordoloi also expressed anger at the conduct of Assam PCC president Gaurav Gogoi, accusing him of failing to support him and instead taking Nazar and the alleged attacker into confidence. He said he had objected to Nazar’s candidature from Lahorighat, which falls under the Nagaon Lok Sabha constituency.The Nagaon MP also said he was hurt by the role of Saharanpur MP Imran Masood, a member of the screening committee for the Assam election, alleging that Gaurav had brought him closer to Nazar.“In the Central Election Committee meeting, when the Lahorighat issue was raised, Masood said my complaints were fake, false and fabricated,” Bordoloi alleged, adding that Gaurav did not defend him despite being present in the meeting.“Today I feel humiliated. And I sent the letter (to the Congress high command),” Bordoloi said.He also alleged that Gaurav had tried to contest the 2024 Lok Sabha election from Nagaon by sidelining him.Responding to reports of Bordoloi’s letter, Gaurav said members of the Congress organisation are free to speak openly. He contrasted that with BJP, alleging that even Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal does not enjoy such visible space in his party.Congress infighting drew a swift political response from CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, who claimed no Hindu leader would remain in the party by 2030. “Slowly all of them will leave Congress,” he said.
