Congress gives Borah larger role to finalise oppn alliance

Guwahati: Amid growing frustration among opposition parties over delays in finalising the opposition alliance and seat-sharing, Congress has assigned former Assam PCC president and campaign committee chairperson Bhupen Borah a larger role to take the talks to the final stage.

Borah earlier played a proactive role in keeping opposition parties together as Assam PCC president. After the AICC appointed Lok Sabha deputy leader Gaurav Gogoi as state PCC chief last year, Gogoi focused on strengthening the party’s base while alliance discussions continued intermittently.




Borah said the AICC and Assam PCC leadership had entrusted him with advancing the alliance process. “Assam PCC President Gaurav Gogoi and Leader of Opposition Debabrata Saikia took the alliance matter forward with sincerity. I will cooperate with them, as decided by AICC and Assam PCC leaders, to accomplish the task,” Borah said.

The decision was taken on Tuesday in the presence of AICC general secretary in-charge of Assam Jitendra Singh, Gaurav Gogoi, Debabrata Saikia, MPs Pradyut Bordoloi and Rakibul Hussain, and former PCC president Ripun Bora.

Gaurav Gogoi had announced in November last year that Congress would contest the assembly polls in an alliance with Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP), Raijor Dal (RD), Anchalik Gana Morcha (now merged with AJP), CPI, CPM, CPI-ML and APHLC. However, the absence of a seat-sharing agreement has antagonised some partners, with RD, APHLC and CPI indicating readiness to field candidates in multiple constituencies.

“We need to go ahead with an understanding with like-minded parties to ensure that anti-BJP votes do not get divided,” Borah said.

Soon after being assigned the responsibility, Borah on Wednesday moved to expedite talks with Raijor Dal president Akhil Gogoi, who welcomed the move and described Borah as more alliance-friendly. “The good news is that Bhupen Borah was entrusted with the responsibility to oversee the alliance. He is a practical man, and we are happy with the Congress decision. We are hopeful that the alliance will be finalised soon,” Akhil said. He added that Borah assured him talks would be held with Raijor Dal soon.

AJP president Lurinjyoti Gogoi said the alliance and seat-sharing should be finalised within the next 7 to 10 days. “Early seat-sharing will infuse positivity among the voters,” he said.

In 2024, Bhupen Borah resigned as president of the opposition alliance Asom Sanmilito Morcha (ASOM). Sources said he stepped down after the Congress high command backed Congress candidate Jayanta Bora in the Behali by-election, contrary to other alliance partners who supported CPI-ML in the seat.