GUWAHATI: In a display of cross-party appreciation, former Assam BJP president and MLA Siddhartha Bhattacharya has congratulated Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi for his victory in the Lok Sabha election from Jorhat.

Bhattacharya praised Gaurav Gogoi’s individual merit and potential, highlighting that this win marks a significant milestone in the Assam Congress leader’s political career.

Speaking to the media, Assam BJP MLA Siddhartha Bhattacharya said: “Based on my own assessment and feedback from acquaintances in Jorhat, it was evident that Gaurav Gogoi’s approach resonated with the middle-class society in the town area.”

“I congratulate him on his win. Unlike his previous victory, which many attributed to the legacy of his father, Tarun Gogoi, this time Gaurav has won on his own merit,” said Bhattacharya.

It may be mentioned here that Siddhartha Bhattacharya is not the first of the Assam BJP leaders to have showered praises on senior Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi.

Earlier, Assam BJP MLA, Mrinal Saikia, also acknowledged Gaurav Gogoi’s significant win.

Also read: Assam CM continues communal narrative post-elections, says high minority voter turnout a concern

Saikia stated, “Special congratulations to Gaurav Gogoi for your amazing win. This result is very significant in Jorhat in many ways. The outcome proved that money, big publicity, overdoses of leaders, and arrogant speeches do not always help to win elections.”

Saikia’s congratulatory yet critical post quickly drew a stern response from Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who hinted that Saikia might soon defect to the Congress.

“Mrinal Saikia did not congratulate Narendra Modi on his victory, but he did congratulate opposition party winner Gaurav Gogoi on his win. Due to this action, I believe he will not be a BJP member for much longer,” the Assam chief minister said.

Notably, despite the ruling BJP’s extensive efforts led by Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his ministers to secure a win in Jorhat, Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi emerged victorious.

The BJP had invested significant time and energy in their campaign to unseat Gaurav Gogoi, but their efforts ultimately fell short.

Also read: Assam: Congress predicts CM Himanta Biswa Sarma’s exit after three LS seat wins

Although the BJP-led NDA secured 11 out of 14 Lok Sabha seats in Assam, Congress managed to wrestle away Jorhat, a constituency where CM Himanta Biswa Sarma had personally spearheaded the saffron party’s campaign.

Sarma had made the contest in Jorhat a personal battle. Now, as the chief of the NDA alliance in the Northeast, Sarma is facing rare dissent within the BJP, fuelled by the defeat in Jorhat.

Gaurav Gogoi emerged victorious despite the BJP’s aggressive campaign led by Himanta Biswa Sarma, who had turned the Jorhat seat into a prestige battle.

Gaurav Gogoi’s victory by a margin of 1.4 lakh votes was a significant setback for the BJP.

Gogoi’s emphatic victory in the prestige battle led to an unusual rebuke within the BJP against Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma.