Guwahati, January 14, 2026: In a dramatic political twist, former All Assam Minorities Students’ Union (AAMSU) president Rejaul Karim Sarkar resigned from the Indian National Congress on Wednesday, barely 60 hours after his high-profile induction into the party.
Sarkar, who joined the Congress on January 11, 2026, in the presence of Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Gaurav Gogoi, submitted his resignation letter on the auspicious day of Bhogali Bihu. The move came amid intense backlash over his controversial remarks during the joining event, where he spoke about creating a “Greater Assam” and harmony, but statements perceived as aiming to transform districts like Sivasagar and Tinsukia into the likeness of Dhubri sparked widespread protests and criticism across Upper Assam.
In his strongly worded resignation letter addressed to Gaurav Gogoi, Sarkar announced his decision to relinquish primary membership of the party, citing deep “moral and ideological pain” caused by senior leaders. He specifically accused Assam Congress Legislature Party leader and Opposition Leader Debabrata Saikia and Nagaon MP Pradyut Bordoloi of acting as “BJP agents” working to undermine the party from within.
Sarkar stated that he had joined the Congress inspired by its secular values, commitment to inclusive development, equal dignity, and progress for all communities in Assam. However, he claimed that actions and remarks by Saikia and Bordoloi not only maligned his image but also blocked the emergence of a strong alternative secular force against the ruling BJP.
In a social media post accompanying his statement, Sarkar emphasized:
“Never bending my spine while looking at the face of the minority community, my sole political objective was to stand firm for the interests of the community and keep its backbone straight. Becoming an MLA or a leader was never my primary goal. Therefore, it was never possible for me to continue my political journey alongside Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma or Debabrata Saikia, who acts as an agent of the BJP.”
He further alleged that certain “pseudo-Congress” leaders deliberately trapped him in the BJP’s narrative on the very day of his joining, insulting the minority community he has represented for over two decades.
Sarkar, who has a long history of uncompromising struggle for minority rights without any compromise over the past 20 years, said his conscience would not allow him to stay in the party under the current circumstances. He urged the minority community and his supporters to take responsibility for his future path, while requesting no political contact at this time.
The episode has exposed internal rifts within the Assam Congress ahead of key political developments, highlighting challenges in accommodating new entrants amid existing leadership dynamics and regional sensitivities.
This rapid entry-to-exit saga has dominated headlines in Assam politics today, raising questions about the party’s strategy for outreach to minority organizations.
