Congress Appoints New Leadership in Assam Assembly

In a significant move, the Congress party has appointed Wazed Ali Choudhury as the Leader and Dr. Joy Prakash Das as the Deputy Leader of the Congress Legislature Party in Assam. This decision marks the end of a lengthy internal conflict within the party. Choudhury expressed gratitude for the trust placed in him, while Das committed to advocating for the people's concerns. The appointments come amidst criticism from former Congress leader Bhupen Borah, who has raised questions about the party's direction. This leadership change is expected to impact the party's strategy as it prepares for future elections.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 27, 2026, 13:17 IST

New Leadership for Congress in Assam

A file image of Wazed Ali Choudhury

Guwahati, May 27: The Congress party has resolved its internal conflicts by appointing Wazed Ali Choudhury as the Leader and Dr. Joy Prakash Das as the Deputy Leader of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) in Assam's Legislative Assembly.

This decision was confirmed by the Congress President and communicated by AICC General Secretary KC Venugopal in an official statement on May 26, taking effect immediately.

According to the statement, "Congress President has approved the proposal for the appointment of Leader and Deputy Leader of the Congress Legislature Party in Assam, effective immediately — Wazed Ali Choudhury (Leader) and Dr. Joy Prakash Das (Deputy Leader)."

During a press conference in Guwahati on Wednesday, Choudhury expressed his appreciation for the support from party leadership and fellow legislators.

He stated, "The responsibility entrusted to me by the high command is supported by my fellow MLAs and the blessings of the APCC chief. I am grateful for the trust placed in me."

Nowboicha (SC) legislator Das, who has taken on the role of deputy leader, emphasized his commitment to voicing the concerns of the public and serving them diligently.

“I will persist in advocating for the people and addressing their issues on every platform available, both inside and outside the Assembly. The opinions of the BJP do not concern us. I respect our high command's decision,” Das remarked.

The recent appointments followed extensive discussions within the party and came shortly after senior Congress figure and former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel hinted during his visit to Guwahati that the leadership issue would be resolved soon.

However, this development faced criticism from Bhupen Borah, a former Congress member now serving as a BJP MLA from Bihpuriya, who took the opportunity to mock his former party. Borah suggested that Congress would soon be referred to as "APCC (R)," leaving the meaning of "R" open to interpretation.

"The appointment of the Leader of the Opposition has clearly revealed whom the Congress truly represents. When I departed from the party, I predicted it would become APCC (R), and the meaning of 'R' will soon become evident," Borah stated.

The BJP legislator also accused the state unit of power centralization, likening it to the late Shiv Sena leader Bal Thackeray's style of remote control leadership.

"Just as Bal Thackeray managed the Shiv Sena without holding any official position, APCC (R) is being operated similarly. I was aware of this situation and had informed the high command, which is why I was removed from the president's role for attempting to function independently of Rakibul Hussain," he alleged.