Assam TMC President Ripun Bora Resigns, Cites Unresolved Issues and Leadership Concerns

Ripun Bora, who served as the President of the Assam unit of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) for over two years, has resigned from the party, citing multiple unresolved issues and a lack of communication with the party's top leadership. In his resignation letter to TMC’s national general secretary, Abhishek Banerjee, Bora outlined his reasons for stepping down, expressing frustration over the challenges faced in expanding the party's presence in Assam.

During his tenure as the state president of Assam TMC, Bora actively engaged with the people across the state, aiming to establish the party as a formidable political alternative to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). "Throughout my time as state president, I have interacted extensively with people from all corners of Assam, working diligently to build the party’s foundation here," Bora mentioned in his letter.

Despite his efforts, Bora pointed out several recurring challenges that hindered the party's growth in Assam, especially the widespread perception of TMC as a party rooted in West Bengal. "Assam TMC has great potential, but several recurring issues have hindered our progress, including the perception of TMC as a regional party of West Bengal," Bora stated in his resignation.

To address this perception, Bora suggested a number of initiatives aimed at reinforcing Assam’s cultural identity within the party's framework. He proposed appointing an Assamese leader at the national level, recognizing the residence of Bharat Ratna Dr. Bhupen Hazarika in Tollygunge as a heritage site, and converting Madhupur Satra in Cooch Behar into a cultural hub. These measures, he believed, would help integrate Assam's cultural legacy with the party's national agenda.

However, Bora expressed deep disappointment over his unsuccessful attempts to discuss these proposals with the party's top leaders. "Despite my repeated attempts over the past year and a half to secure an appointment with you and our Chief Minister Mamata Didi to address these concerns, I have been unsuccessful," Bora wrote in his letter to Abhishek Banerjee.

Frustrated by the lack of response and the ongoing perception issues, Bora felt he had no choice but to resign from his position and the party. "The people of Assam are not willing to accept a party that they perceive as being from another state. Given these challenges and the lack of engagement from the leadership, I have decided to disassociate myself from TMC," he concluded.

Ripun Bora’s resignation is a significant blow to TMC’s ambitions in Assam, reflecting the internal challenges the party faces as it attempts to expand its influence beyond West Bengal. His departure raises questions about the party’s strategy in states where it is perceived as an outsider, and highlights the difficulties of establishing a national presence in a diverse political landscape.