Former AAMSU president Rejaul Karim Sarkar resigned from the Congress just three days after joining, following intense backlash over remarks perceived as threatening Upper Assam’s demographic and cultural identity.
Former All Assam Minority Students’ Union (AAMSU) president Rejaul Karim Sarkar resigned from the Congress party on Wednesday, barely three days after formally joining it, amid a fierce political storm triggered by his controversial “Tinsukia and Sivasagar will become Dhubri” remark.
Sarkar had joined the Congress at Rajiv Bhavan in Guwahati on Sunday in the presence of Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president and Jorhat MP Gaurav Gogoi. Soon after, his statement sparked massive outrage across Upper Assam, drawing sharp criticism from the BJP, indigenous organizations, and student bodies.
The remark was widely interpreted as a veiled threat to alter the demographic and cultural character of Upper Assam districts such as Tinsukia and Sivasagar—regions regarded as strongholds of indigenous Assamese identity.
Facing mounting pressure, Sarkar submitted his resignation to APCC president Gaurav Gogoi. His exit comes amid deep internal discord within the Assam Congress, with Sarkar reportedly levelling serious allegations against senior party leaders in his resignation letter.
Notably, several indigenous organizations had demanded Sarkar’s immediate expulsion and sought a public apology from Gaurav Gogoi for sharing the stage with him. While Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Debabrata Saikia publicly criticised Sarkar, the party leadership stopped short of taking disciplinary action, fuelling further discontent.
Reacting to the development, Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma accused the Congress of political indecision, claiming that its failure to act had elevated Sarkar’s stature.
“Whether Rejaul Karim Sarkar resigns or not is secondary. The real question is why Gaurav Gogoi did not have the courage to sack him. By failing to act, the Congress has made him a hero,” Dr Sarma said while speaking to reporters at Boithalangso on the sidelines of a government event.
The controversy centres on Sarkar’s statement made immediately after joining the Congress, where he said the party aimed to build an Assam where “Sivasagar will be Dhubri and Dhubri will be Sivasagar.” The comment drew sharp reactions as Dhubri district has, over the decades, witnessed large-scale illegal immigration, resulting in significant demographic changes.
For days, Upper Assam witnessed rising protests, with ethnic groups issuing ultimatums to the Congress leadership to take decisive action. The party’s reluctance to respond decisively has been viewed by political observers as a sign of internal confusion and lack of unity.
Sarkar’s abrupt exit has now left the Assam Congress grappling with political embarrassment, further complicating its efforts to consolidate support ahead of key political battles in the state.
