The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has suffered a major political setback in Assam ahead of next year’s assembly elections. Eighteen senior party members, including former Union Minister and veteran leader Rajen Gohain, have resigned from the party.
Gohain, who has been a four-time Member of Parliament from Nagaon, submitted his resignation to Assam BJP president Dilip Saikia. In his letter, he announced that he was resigning from the primary membership and all positions within the BJP with immediate effect.
18 BJP Leaders Quit Party in Assam
Along with Gohain, 17 other BJP members have also quit the party. Most of them are reportedly from Upper and Central Assam, indicating internal discontent within the regional units of the ruling party.
Speaking to the media, Rajen Gohain said his decision was driven by the party’s alleged failure to fulfill promises made to the people of Assam. He accused the BJP of betraying local communities by allowing outsiders to settle in the state, thereby hurting Assamese interests.
Gohain’s Political Journey
Rajen Gohain is one of the BJP’s most experienced leaders from Assam. He represented the Nagaon parliamentary constituency from 1999 to 2019, serving four consecutive terms as an MP. From 2016 to 2019, he held the position of Minister of State for Railways in the Narendra Modi government.
Apart from his political career, Gohain is also a tea plantation owner and a well-known figure in Assam’s business and cultural sectors. His influence in central Assam is considered significant, and his resignation could affect the BJP’s support base in the region.
Trouble for BJP Ahead of 2026 Elections
The resignation wave comes as a major blow to the BJP government led by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, which is seeking a hat-trick of victories in the upcoming 2026 Assam Assembly elections.
With opposition parties already attempting to consolidate anti-BJP sentiment in the state, the departure of key figures like Rajen Gohain could have political implications for the party’s strategy and grassroots organization in Assam.
