TMC Assam chief Ripun Bora quits, likely to return to Congress

GUWAHATI: Veteran politician Ripun Bora, who had been made the president of Trinamool Congress’ Assam unit, resigned from the party on Sunday. A former Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president, Bora, according to sources, may officially return to the Congress fold on September 8 during its general house meeting in Charaideo.
However, chances are that his return might be delayed, owing to discussions to further the move.
Speaking to the media, Bora said his goal was to establish TMC as a decisive force in Assam, but the narrative of viewing TMC as a regional party of West Bengal put paid to his endeavour. “Our goal was to resist the BJP, by making TMC our platform. But since the people did not accept our idea, I do not want to waste my energy in TMC,” Bora said. While choosing to remain non-committal about his next move, Bora said that he will continue to support forces opposing the BJP.
“Congress is my old home and I will have no hesitation to join Congress,” he said. A former Rajya Sabha MP and a state cabinet minister, Bora was a close ally of former Assam CM Tarun Gogoi. Assam PCC chief Bhupen Borah too chose to remain tight-lipped about Bora’s supposed return to the party fold. “Let me first talk to him in this regard. Only then can I confirm,” Borah said.
Addressing his resignation letter to AITC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, Bora expressed regret while reflecting on his efforts since joining the party in April 2022. Bora stated that while Assam TMC had great potential, several issues hindered the party’s progress, including its perception as a regional party of West Bengal.
To counter it, Bora said he had made several suggestions, such as having an Assamese leader at the national level, declaring Bharat Ratna Dr Bhupen Hazarika’s residence at Tollygunge in Kolkata as a heritage site and converting Madhupur Satra in Cooch Behar into a cultural hub. However, his repeated attempts to secure an appointment with Abhishek and West Bengal CM to address the issues, turned futile. While lauding Mamata and Abhishek for their uncompromising fight against ‘fascist’ and ‘communal forces’, Bora said his decision to resign was not born out of grievances, but due to circumstances beyond his control.