Guwahati: Four opposition parties in Assam on Thursday signalled the beginning of a coordinated political front against the BJP ahead of the upcoming Assembly polls, announcing that they would jointly reach out to voters across the state.
At a joint press conference held at a hotel in Beltola here, Assam Pradesh Congress Committee president Gaurav Gogoi, Asom Jatiya Parishad (AJP) president Lurinjyoti Gogoi, CPI(M) State secretary Suprakash Talukdar and APHLC president John Ingti Kathar said the opposition had decided to work together to counter what they described as the “communal politics” of the ruling BJP.
The leaders said the four parties would begin joint campaign activities across upper Assam, lower Assam, Barak Valley and the hill districts, marking the start of a broader effort to consolidate opposition forces in the state.
Gaurav Gogoi said the possibility of early Assembly elections meant that the coming weeks were crucial for the opposition. He said political parties had so far focused on strengthening their organisational bases but it had now become necessary to come together and take common issues to the people.
He added that discussions were also underway with other opposition parties, including Raijor Dal, CPI and CPI(ML), with the aim of expanding the opposition platform in the coming days.
Lurinjyoti Gogoi said the alliance of four parties had come together to send a strong message to the people of Assam and begin a collective campaign against the BJP government. He said the opposition would inform the public about what it described as the failures of the state government over the past decade and seek public support to remove the BJP from power.
APHLC president John Ingti Kathar said the immediate objective of the opposition front was to resist what he called the “destructive politics” of the BJP. He alleged that tribal communities in regions such as Karbi Anglong had faced political and economic marginalisation and said the opposition would pursue a democratic struggle to address these concerns.
CPI(M) State secretary Suprakash Talukdar criticised the BJP government despite what he described as its “double-engine” advantage of having the same party in power at the Centre, in the state and in local bodies. He claimed the ruling party was increasingly anxious ahead of the elections despite its political and financial backing.
Responding to questions from journalists, Gaurav Gogoi said the opposition parties would soon finalise locations for joint public meetings and outreach programmes across the state.
He also took a jibe at the BJP for allegedly relying on the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) in the recent Rajya Sabha election. Gogoi said the development contradicted the ruling party’s earlier political rhetoric against the AIUDF and reflected opportunistic politics.
Taking a swipe at the Chief Minister, Gogoi said AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal often appeared to provide political support to the BJP whenever it faced difficulties.
Lurinjyoti Gogoi echoed similar criticism, alleging that the BJP’s political survival in Assam had depended on the AIUDF’s presence in state politics. He also attacked the BJP government on issues ranging from land policies affecting tribal communities to rising prices and unfulfilled political promises.
Among the issues raised by the opposition leaders were alleged land transfers affecting tribal areas, the implementation of Clause 6 of the Assam Accord and demands for justice in the Zubeen Garg case.
The opposition leaders said their campaign would focus on taking these issues to the electorate and building a broader political coalition before the Assembly elections.
Several other political and civil society figures were present at the press conference, including senior AJP leader and advocate Kamal Narayan Choudhury and former Assam Chief Secretary C.K. Das. The event was moderated by Bedabrat Bora, chairman of the media and communications department of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee.