Assam Congress chief rules out Congress-AIUDF alliance for 2026 polls

Guwahati: Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi on Tuesday ruled out any alliance with the All India United Democratic Front ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections, terming the party communal and placing it on par with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.

Gogoi said the Congress would not join hands with the AIUDF under any circumstances, arguing that one communal force could not be used to defeat another. His remarks came days after the Congress and eight other Opposition parties announced plans to contest the 2026 elections together under the banner of the Asom Sonmilito Morcha to challenge the BJP. The AIUDF is not part of the alliance.

The Congress and AIUDF had contested the 2021 Assembly elections as allies but parted ways after Bhupen Kumar Borah took charge as president of the Assam Congress.

Responding to questions on whether the Morcha had begun seat-sharing discussions, Gogoi said such matters were not discussed publicly and would be taken forward through closed-door negotiations. He added that the upcoming elections would not be easy for the BJP.

The Assam Assembly elections to 126 constituencies are expected to be held in March–April next year. Currently, the BJP has 64 MLAs in the House, while its allies — Asom Gana Parishad, United People’s Party Liberal and Bodoland People’s Front — have nine, seven and three legislators, respectively. In the Opposition, the Congress has 26 MLAs, the AIUDF 15, the CPI(M) one, and there is one Independent.

Gogoi claimed the BJP was facing growing dissatisfaction within its own ranks. He alleged that while a few ministers and close associates had benefited under the current leadership, party workers had gained little. He also claimed that basic infrastructure such as roads, drinking water supply and government schools remained neglected in areas where BJP workers lived.

The Deputy Leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha further alleged that Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma was running the party to suit his personal interests along with a small group of associates.

Responding to allegations that the Congress was “pro-Miya”, Gogoi dismissed the charge as baseless. He said people who cared for Assam and its land, air and water had been joining the party since April last year, adding that the list of new entrants exposed such allegations as unfounded.

The term ‘Miya’, originally used pejoratively for Bengali-speaking Muslims in Assam, has in recent years been reclaimed by sections of the community as a form of assertion.

Also Read | How Bogapani elephant corridor is getting choked by encroachment