Four opposition parties in Assam, led by the Congress, on Friday announced that they will undertake a joint campaign for the upcoming Assembly elections, signalling a broad alliance against the ruling BJP even as seat-sharing arrangements remain unresolved.
The parties said they would begin holding joint campaign meetings across the state, marking the start of coordinated election efforts. Discussions are also underway with other political outfits, including the Raijor Dal led by Akhil Gogoi, with the alliance hoping to expand further.
Addressing a press conference, Assam Pradesh Congress Committee president Gaurav Gogoi said the opposition had decided to take its message together to the people ahead of the polls.
“From now on, we will undertake joint campaign meetings across the state. Discussions on some probable locations in Upper Assam have already taken place, and we will discuss other parts as well,” Gogoi said.
He was joined by CPI(M) state secretary Suprakash Talukdar, Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) president Lurinjyoti Gogoi and All Party Hill Leaders’ Conference chief Jones Ingti Kathar.
While the four parties have practically sealed their alliance, negotiations on seat-sharing are still continuing. Friendly contests between alliance partners in a few constituencies are likely, leaders said. The Congress has already announced candidates for 42 Assembly seats.
Also read: Three Assam Congress MLAs join BJP ahead of Assembly polls
Gaurav Gogoi said the elections were expected to be held before Bohag Bihu in mid-April, making the coming weeks crucial for campaign preparations.
He noted that although opposition parties had earlier discussed contesting the elections together, organisational activities and the special revision of electoral rolls had delayed the process.
“We felt that it was time we took our views together to the public. Hence, we will launch the joint campaign from now on,” said Gogoi, who will contest from the Jorhat Assembly constituency.
Asked whether more parties could join the alliance, he said discussions were ongoing.
“We are sending a clear message that from today, we are coming together. But our doors are open, and we are in talks with others also,” he added.
AJP president Lurinjyoti Gogoi said the alliance was aimed at presenting a united front against the ruling BJP.
“We have joined hands to send a clear message to the people that we are united in our journey to oust the communal BJP. We are hopeful that other opposition parties will join us along the way,” he said.
Kathar alleged that people in the hill areas were being deprived of equal opportunities in education and employment, while CPI(M) leader Talukdar said the alliance was a “good beginning” that now needed consolidation.
In the 126-member Assam Assembly, the BJP has 64 MLAs. Its allies AGP, UPPL and BPF have nine, seven and three members respectively, while the Congress has 26 legislators.
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