The Indian National Congress (INC) on Wednesday faced a massive setback in Assam, as its candidate for the Udalguri constituency, Suren Daimari, resigned from the party and launched a scathing attack on its leadership just one day before polling in the single-phase Assembly elections. Daimari also withdrew his candidature for the elections and surrendered the ticket issued to him by the party to contest as official Congress candidate.
Speaking to reporters, Daimari described the Congress as a “party of Gaddars (betrayers)” that had “defrauded” him. He claimed that, despite being given the party ticket, he received no support or communication from senior leaders, despite repeated attempts to contact them. “Congress is a betrayer party. They defrauded me. Even after giving me the ticket, they did not respond. I called them multiple times, but they didn’t answer,” he said.
Assam | Congress' Udalguri candidate Suren Daimary has withdrawn his candidacy also resigned from the party just a day ahead of the polling.
— The Truth India (@thetruthin) April 8, 2026
Daimary alleged lack of support from the party and out of grief, he has left the party.#AssamElections2026 pic.twitter.com/xpVQ6i0RPU
He added: “I got no response from the party or its leaders, so I have left. I have not received any support, that’s why I stepped away.” Suren Daimari further alleged that the Congress was indulging in “appeasement of the Miya community.” He declined to take further questions and left the interaction abruptly.
The resignation comes as polling is scheduled to begin at 7am on Thursday, 9 April 2026, across the state. Udalguri, in the Bodo heartland of lower Assam, has been a politically sensitive seat. With this resignation, the contest in Udalguri will be limited to NDA ally Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) candidate Rihon Daimary and former NDA ally United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL) candidate Dipen Boro. Rihon Daimary won the Bodoland Territorial Council elections held last year and is currently the Deputy Chief of the Council. The former state minister is seen as the frontrunner in the assembly polls against former ABSU president Boro.
Daimari’s exit is the latest in a string of setbacks for the Congress ahead of the polls, following earlier high-profile departures including former Lok Sabha MP Pradyut Bordoloi, former PCC president Bhupen Borah, and other senior leaders.
