New Delhi, April 17 : In a major setback for the Congress in Assam, senior party leader and former state Minister Ripun Bora on Sunday resigned from the grand old party, where he served for almost more than four decades. In his resignation letter addressed to Congress national president Sonia Gandhi, Bora, who was the party’s nominee in the recently-concluded Rajya Sabha polls in the North-eastern state, penned an emotional note, “It is very unfortunate that some of my party leaders played role in such a manner, which paved way for BJP’s win on both the Rajya Sabha seats (in Assam). “I am pained to inform you that it is an open secret in Assam that instead of fighting against BJP, a section of seniormost leaders have been maintaining a secret understanding with the BJP government, mainly with the Chief Minister (Himanta Biswa Sarma).” The former Rajya Sabha MP said that his conscience doesn’t allow him to continue in the party, where its interest and ideology are being compromised to favour BJP. “In the coming days, I shall continue my fight more vigorously against BJP to protect the democracy and Constitution of our country,” he added. Meanwhile, All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee claimed that Bora had joined the party, led by Mamata Banerjee. “Extending a very warm welcome to Ripun Bora, a stalwart and skilled politician, who joined the AITC family today. We are extremely pleased to have you onboard and look forward to working together for the well-being of our people!,” Banerjee tweeted. DS RJ