Former All Assam Minorities Students’ Union (AAMSU) president Rejaul Karim Sarkar resigned from the Congress on Wednesday, just days after formally joining the party, citing deep differences with its state leadership and alleging internal hostility. His abrupt exit has sparked a fresh political controversy in Assam, intensifying debates around identity, demography, and political positioning ahead of crucial electoral battles in the state.

In a strongly worded resignation letter addressed to Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Gaurav Gogoi, Sarkar accused senior Congress leaders Debabrata Saikia, the leader of the Congress Legislature Party, and Lok Sabha MP Pradyut Bordoloi of functioning “like BJP agents.” Sarkar wrote that their conduct, public statements, and political approach had caused him “immense pain” and made it impossible for him to continue in the party without compromising his conscience and personal dignity.

Sarkar, a former student activist who had joined the Congress only on Sunday, said he had entered the party inspired by its stated commitment to secularism, inclusive politics, and constitutional values. However, he claimed that the behaviour of senior leaders during the controversy surrounding his remarks left him feeling isolated and unsupported.

“I joined the Congress with hope and conviction, believing in its ideology. But recent statements and actions by senior leaders have deeply distressed me,” Sarkar wrote in his resignation letter. “I feel alienated within the party. Continuing would require me to compromise my conscience, political principles, and dignity, which I cannot do.”

Controversial Remarks Spark Backlash

Sarkar’s brief stint in the Congress was overshadowed by controversy following remarks he made shortly after joining the party. He spoke about turning Assam’s Sivasagar into Dhubri, Dhubri into Sivasagar, Barak Valley into Sivasagar, and Tinsukia into Dhubri. Though the comments were vague, they were widely interpreted as references to demographic and cultural transformation in different regions of the state.

The remarks triggered immediate outrage across Assam, particularly in Sivasagar and nearby districts, where protests erupted and demands were raised for Sarkar’s removal from the Congress. Critics accused him of making provocative statements that touched upon sensitive issues of Assamese identity and demographic balance.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma was among the first to strongly condemn Sarkar’s comments. Calling them insensitive and divisive, Sarma said the remarks ignored Assam’s historical and cultural legacy. “Sivasagar was not built by his forefathers,” Sarma said, adding that Assam did not need a “Bangladesh-origin individual” to define its future. His comments further escalated the controversy, drawing sharp reactions from various political quarters.

Congress leader Debabrata Saikia and Raijor Dal chief Akhil Gogoi also criticised Sarkar’s remarks, arguing that they were damaging and politically irresponsible. The controversy quickly snowballed into a broader debate on identity politics, migration, and regional sensitivities in Assam.

Congress Leadership Responds

Initially, APCC president Gaurav Gogoi defended Sarkar, claiming his remarks had been misrepresented. Gogoi said Sarkar was speaking about the idea of “Bor Axom” or “Greater Assam,” but his words were twisted out of context. However, as public anger grew, Gogoi shifted his stance.

On Tuesday, Gogoi said Sarkar had apologised for his comments and acknowledged that they had hurt public sentiments. He cautioned Sarkar to be careful in the future, especially while speaking on sensitive issues. Gogoi also admitted that the controversy had caused discomfort within the party.

Despite this, Sarkar maintained that he did not receive adequate support from senior Congress leaders when the backlash intensified. In his resignation letter, he alleged that instead of standing by him or clarifying his position effectively, some leaders distanced themselves and indirectly endorsed the criticism against him.

BJP Attacks Congress Over Exit

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma seized upon Sarkar’s resignation to attack the Congress leadership. Sarma said Gaurav Gogoi should have dismissed Sarkar immediately for insulting the Assamese people but failed to show political courage.

“He did not take action. Now Rejaul Karim will project himself as a hero for leaving the party,” Sarma said, suggesting that the Congress mishandled the situation from the start.

Sarma’s remarks were part of a broader BJP narrative portraying the Congress as confused and internally divided, particularly on issues related to identity and regional sentiments in Assam.

Debabrata Saikia Questions Sarkar’s Relevance

Congress Legislature Party leader Debabrata Saikia also questioned Sarkar’s political relevance, downplaying the significance of his entry and exit from the party. Saikia asked what contribution Sarkar had made to Assam’s political life and why he was being given undue importance.

Saikia further alleged that Sarkar had earlier been close to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. In a sharp remark, he suggested that Sarma may have “sent a new agent” into the Congress after losing influence within the party. The allegation added another layer of intrigue to the episode, blurring the lines between political rivalry and internal party dynamics.

Sarkar’s Exit and Its Implications

Sarkar’s resignation highlights the deep fault lines within Assam’s opposition politics, particularly around questions of identity, minority representation, and political messaging. His rapid rise and equally rapid exit underscore the challenges faced by political parties in accommodating leaders with strong activist backgrounds and controversial public profiles.

For the Congress, the episode is an embarrassment, coming at a time when the party is trying to rebuild its organisational strength in Assam and broaden its support base. The inability to manage internal dissent and public controversy effectively could further weaken its position against the BJP, which remains firmly in control of the state.

For Sarkar, the exit marks another turning point in a political journey shaped by activism, controversy, and confrontation. In his resignation letter, he reiterated his commitment to secularism and inclusive politics, but it remains unclear what his next political move will be.

As Assam’s political climate continues to be shaped by identity debates and sharp partisan rivalries, the Sarkar episode serves as a reminder of how quickly political calculations can unravel when sensitive issues are handled without consensus or clarity.