Assam Congress Working President Rana Goswami Resigns Amidst Speculations of a Switch to BJP

In another setback for the Congress, the working president of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee, Rana Goswami tendered his resignation to AICC General Secretary KC. Venugopal on Wednesday. Goswami also quit as an active member of the Indian National Congress, amidst soaring speculations of him joining the BJP.

“I beg to state that I am tendering my resignation as the working President of Assam Pradesh Congress Committee and as an active member of Indian National Congress,” wrote Rana Goswami in a letter addressed to KC Venugopal. 

In another resignation letter addressed to APCC chief Bhupen Borah on Sunday, Goswami underscored several political reasons that ultimately prompted his resignation. He mentioned that he is resigning from his role as the organizational in-charge of Upper Assam, which includes districts such as Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Sonitpur, and Biswanath. 

Amidst speculation about Rana Goswami’s potential switch to the Bharatiya Janata Party, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday had stated that Goswami would be warmly welcomed into the party if he chooses to do so. Speaking to reporters in Majuli, the chief minister highlighted Goswami's influential political presence in Assam, particularly in Jorhat, and added that Goswami's joining the BJP would bolster the party's strength.​

Rana Goswami’s resignation comes at a time when the grand old party is treading on thin ice in the political landscape of Himachal Pradesh where six Congress MLAs cross-voted in favor of the BJP candidate Harsh Mahajan, defeating the Congress's Abhishek Singhvi in the Rajya Sabha elections on Tuesday. In light of the recent events in Himachal Pradesh, Congress MLA Vikramaditya Singh also announced his resignation from the Cabinet on Wednesday.

Previously, Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan had resigned and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party, after ending his 38-year-old stint with the Congress. In addition, Congress leaders Baba Siddique and Milind Deora had quit earlier this year. Milind Deora joined the Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde, while Baba Siddique joined the NCP led by Ajit Pawar.