Guwahati: A number of names have popped up as possible replacement for Congress president Ripun Bora in the aftermath of the defeat to the NDA's Mitrajoot alliance in this year's Assembly election.
According to reports, Nagaon MP and former Minister Pradyut Bordoloi has emerged as the clear front runner to dethrone Bora as the party seeks a revival in Assam after losing two elections in a row. Gaurav Gogoi, Lok Sabha MP from Kaliabor and former chief minister Tarun Gogoi's son, as well as a number of MLAs such as the tea tribe leader Rupjyoti Kurmi, and Bharat Narah could also be possible contenders, it is being speculated.
If reports are to believed, Bhupen Bora is also being considered as he is a close confidante of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
"We need new thinking and new faces to emerge from this turmoil (..) I have experience, and will accept the responsibility if chosen by the party", Bordoloi recently told mediapersons, hinting that he is ready to take the job.
It needs mention here that Ripun Bora had tendered his resignation after the loss in this year's election.
Following the party’s poor show, Bora submitted a letter to All India Congress Committee president Sonia Gandhi tendering his resignation. The Congress leader lost from the Gohpur seat to BJP’s Utpal Borah by a margin of over 29,000 votes.
“I do hereby tender my resignation from the post of president, Assam Pradesh Congress Committee, owning the responsibility of the humiliating defeat of my party in the Assam assembly election 2021,” Bora wrote in his letter.
“I am extremely saddened and disheartened that despite my immense hard work we were unable to combat the divisive and communal politics played by BJP and RSS,” he added.
The party high command, however, is yet to formally accept Bora's resignation.