Guwahati: Former AAMSU president Rezaul Karim Sarkar has quit the Congress party just two days after joining it, following strong controversy and internal opposition within the party.
Rezaul Karim Sarkar had joined the Congress on Sunday in the presence of Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Gaurav Gogoi. However, on Wednesday, he sent his resignation letter to Gaurav Gogoi and officially left the party.
Soon after joining Congress, Sarkar made a controversial statement during his joining speech. He spoke about “turning Sivasagar into Dhubri and Dhubri into Sivasagar,” and making similar comparisons involving Barak Valley and Tinsukia.
His remarks led to widespread criticism across Assam. Political parties, organisations and leaders strongly reacted to the statement. Sarkar later apologised for his words, but the controversy did not die down.
The issue also caused unrest inside the Congress party. Senior Congress leaders, including Leader of Opposition Debabrata Saikia and MP Pradyut Bordoloi, openly criticised Rezaul Karim Sarkar.
Debabrata Saikia even wrote a letter to APCC president Gaurav Gogoi, stating that Sarkar’s remarks had caused serious damage to the party, especially in Upper Assam, just months before the Assembly elections. Saikia also expressed suspicion that Sarkar was acting as an “agent” of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
MP Pradyut Bordoloi, on the other hand, said at a press conference that he did not even know Rezaul Karim Sarkar personally.
In his resignation letter, Sarkar said he had joined Congress inspired by its secular values, constitutional principles and historical responsibility. However, he said the public statements and stand taken by senior leaders like Debabrata Saikia and Pradyut Bordoloi caused him deep mental pain and damaged his reputation.
He accused both leaders of acting as “BJP agents” and said it was impossible for him to continue in the party under such circumstances. Sarkar said he was resigning from the primary membership of the Indian National Congress with immediate effect.
After quitting Congress, Sarkar also shared his reaction on social media. He said his political journey has always been for the dignity and rights of the minority community, not for becoming an MLA or a leader.
He stated that he could not continue his political journey alongside Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and leaders whom he accused of working for the BJP.
Rezaul Karim Sarkar had joined Congress as a probable candidate from the newly formed Srijangram Assembly constituency. However, his political journey in the party ended within just three days, marking a major setback at the very start.
Sarkar said that for the next few days, he does not want to engage in any political discussions and requested people not to contact him for political reasons.
