Elections – Congress and Raijor Dal Unite Ahead of Assam Polls
Elections – The political landscape in Assam witnessed a notable shift on Thursday as the Congress party and Raijor Dal formally joined hands to challenge the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the upcoming state assembly elections.
Alliance Finalised After Prolonged Negotiations
The agreement between the two parties was reached after several weeks of discussions that had initially remained inconclusive. The breakthrough was announced during a joint press interaction by Assam Congress chief Gaurav Gogoi and Raijor Dal leader Akhil Gogoi. Both leaders indicated that the alliance was forged with a shared objective of presenting a united opposition front in the state.
Gaurav Gogoi acknowledged that forming such a coalition required compromise from all participating parties. He said the decision reflected public sentiment, as many voters were keen to see opposition forces come together ahead of the elections.
Call for Broader Opposition Unity
During the announcement, Gogoi extended an open invitation to other regional and national parties to join the alliance. He emphasized that a collective effort would be crucial in challenging the current state government led by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
According to him, the alliance is not limited to Congress and Raijor Dal alone but also includes the Assam Jatiya Parishad, CPI-M, and CPI-ML. He stated that the coalition aims to focus on inclusive development and safeguarding land rights, which remain key concerns for many residents in the state.
Focus on Governance and Public Issues
Leaders involved in the alliance highlighted governance and socio-economic issues as central themes of their campaign. They indicated that their agenda would revolve around equitable development, protection of indigenous land rights, and addressing public grievances.
The alliance partners believe that a united opposition could present a stronger alternative to the ruling NDA, which has been in power since the last assembly elections.
Electoral Battle Set for April
The Assam Assembly elections are scheduled to take place on April 9 for all 126 constituencies. The counting of votes will be carried out on May 4. The contest is expected to be closely watched, with both the ruling alliance and the opposition stepping up their preparations.
Political observers note that alliances and seat-sharing arrangements could play a decisive role in shaping the final outcome, especially in constituencies where margins have historically been narrow.
Lessons from the 2021 Elections
The Congress has expanded its alliance this time after facing a significant setback in the 2021 assembly elections. In that election, the NDA — comprising the BJP, Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), and United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL) — secured a comfortable majority by winning 75 seats. The BJP alone accounted for 60 of those seats.
On the other hand, the Congress-led alliance, which included AIUDF, Bodoland People’s Front (BPF), and Left parties, struggled to make a strong impact and managed to win only 16 seats. The outcome prompted opposition parties to reassess their strategies and explore broader partnerships ahead of the next election.
High Voter Participation in the State
Assam has consistently recorded strong voter engagement. In the 2021 elections, the voter turnout reached an impressive 86.2 percent, with more than 2.2 crore registered voters participating in the democratic process.
With such high participation levels expected again, political parties are focusing on grassroots outreach and coalition-building to strengthen their electoral prospects.
The newly formed alliance between Congress and Raijor Dal marks a significant development in Assam’s political arena, setting the stage for an intense electoral contest in the weeks ahead.