Congress in Assam: From Strategy to Self-Sabotage, Leadership Crisis Deepens

• The brief induction and subsequent resignation of Rejaul Karim Sarkar exposed deep structural, ideological, and leadership crises within the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC).
• Sarkar's remarks on "Bor Asom" and transforming Sivasagar into Dhubri sparked widespread protests and backlash, particularly in Upper Assam, due to sensitivities around identity and migration.
• Senior Congress leaders Debabrata Saikia and Pradyut Bordoloi publicly condemned Sarkar's statements, highlighting internal incoherence and a lack of trust in APCC president Gaurav Gogoi's leadership.
• The controversy revealed a fundamental tension within the Assam Congress: consolidating minority voters versus reassuring indigenous Assamese voters, further weakening the party ahead of the 2026 elections.
• The ruling BJP capitalized on the infighting, portraying Congress as divided and anti-Assamese, while voter disillusionment could benefit regional alternatives.

Why It Matters: Congress's internal strife and strategic missteps in Assam highlight a critical leadership and identity crisis.