Guwahati, March 20: Putting an end to weeks of speculation, the Congress and Raijor Dal on Thursday formally sealed a pre-poll alliance for the upcoming Assam Assembly elections, marking a significant consolidation of opposition forces in the state.
The agreement was finalised at a press conference held at Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi’s residence in Jorhat, where leaders from both parties announced their decision to contest the elections together.
With the pact in place, the two parties aim to mount a united challenge against the ruling BJP. The alliance is being viewed as a strategic move to consolidate anti-BJP votes and strengthen opposition unity across Assam.
Addressing the media, Raijor Dal president Akhil Gogoi described the development as a “long-awaited alliance” that has finally materialised. He said both parties would now jointly take on the BJP in the elections and revealed that, under the seat-sharing arrangement, Congress has ceded several key constituencies to Raijor Dal.
“From today, Raijor Dal will work towards projecting Gaurav Gogoi as the Chief Minister,” he said.
Emphasising the need for opposition unity, Akhil Gogoi described Congress as the oldest political party in Assam and said the alliance was formed with the broader objective of defeating the BJP. He added that six parties, including the Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP), have already aligned with Congress.
Outlining the alliance’s electoral strategy, Gogoi said defeating the BJP remains their primary goal. He appealed to voters, particularly in Jorhat, to support Gaurav Gogoi as the chief ministerial candidate. He also urged voters in Jorhat and Mariani constituencies to back Congress candidate Pallabi Gogoi and Raijor Dal’s Dr Gyanashree Bora, respectively.
Gogoi further stated that Raijor Dal would contest only 13 constituencies, prioritising winnability and the larger goal of defeating the BJP. He also expressed regret to party aspirants who could not be accommodated under the alliance arrangement.
Meanwhile, Gaurav Gogoi thanked Akhil Gogoi and Raijor Dal for joining the alliance, and expressed gratitude to senior Congress leaders for facilitating the partnership.
“We could not meet everyone’s expectations, but their sacrifices will be respected and remembered,” he said, urging party workers to remain united and work collectively to ensure victory. He also appealed to the people of Assam to come together to defeat the ruling BJP.
Highlighting the significance of the alliance, Gaurav Gogoi said that although such a partnership could not materialise in previous elections due to various constraints, the current alliance has the potential to generate a strong political momentum in the state.
As per the agreement, the alliance will contest several key constituencies, including Sivasagar, Mariani, Dalgaon, Dhing, Sadiya, Digboi, Bokakhat, Naharkatia, Kaliabor, Tezpur, Margherita, Goalpara East, and Gauripur, among others.
Earlier differences over seat-sharing had cast doubt on the possibility of an alliance between the two parties. However, after prolonged negotiations, both sides resolved their disagreements and formalised the pact, paving the way for a joint electoral battle in Assam.
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