Congress, Seven Opposition Parties Join Hands in Assam to Challenge Himanta Biswa Sarma Government

Guwahati: In a major political move ahead of the 2026 Assam Assembly elections, the Indian National Congress (INC) held a crucial meeting with seven opposition parties today, aiming to form a united front against the ruling BJP and Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

After nearly two hours of deliberations, AICC General Secretary in charge of Assam, Jitendra Singh, and Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) President MP Gaurav Gogoi addressed a press conference. Gogoi confirmed that leaders of Raijor Dal, Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP), Anchalik Gana Morcha, CPM, CPI, CPI(ML), and APHLC attended the meeting convened by the Congress. The parties reportedly agreed to work together to form an anti-BJP alliance, aiming to address what they described as “misrule, corruption, and oppression” under the current state government. Gogoi added that details of future discussions would be shared in due course.

Jitendra Singh emphasized that opposition forces are united to challenge the Himanta Biswa Sarma-led administration and pledged to work towards forming a new “people’s government” in Assam.

Prominent leaders, including MLAs Manoranjan Talukdar, Akhil Gogoi, MP Ajit Kumar Bhuyan, and AJP President Lurinjyoti Gogoi, jointly announced that all seven parties would contest the 2026 elections together.

The meeting, chaired by APCC President Gaurav Gogoi, was held at the Congress Legislature Party office in the Assam Legislative Assembly and attended by senior party figures, including Secretaries Prithviraj Sathe and Manoj Chauhan, Opposition Leader Debabrata Saikia, and Congress MP Rakibul Hussain. Party leaders from the participating opposition parties, such as Raijor Dal President Akhil Gogoi, AJP President Lurinjyoti Gogoi, CPM MLA Manoranjan Talukdar, and others, were also present.

Earlier, the APCC Political Affairs Committee convened under Gaurav Gogoi at Rajiv Bhawan, adopting several key resolutions. Following today’s meeting, Gogoi announced the launch of a new outreach initiative titled “Raijor Padulit, Raijor Congress” (Congress at People’s Doorstep) to engage directly with citizens across Assam.

“We will reach every corner of Assam — from tea gardens to hill and tribal areas — and spend nights in ordinary households to understand the people’s real issues,” Gogoi said. He added that special public meetings would be organized across the state, open to party members, social activists, intellectuals, writers, and economists, to gather suggestions on economic and cultural priorities.

The Congress also plans to strengthen election preparedness. Gogoi revealed that 80–90% of Booth Level Agents (BLAs) have been appointed across nearly 29,000 booths in Assam, with booth committees being formed to complete the process by the end of this month.

In addition, the party announced a special cultural event titled “Kanchanjungha – Sanskriti Houk Maitriyor Mantra” on November 18 in Guwahati, marking the first birth anniversary of late singer Zubeen Garg. A statewide Nahor sapling plantation drive will also be conducted to honor Garg’s love for nature.