GUWAHATI: In a significant political development, four anti-BJP regional parties in Assam have commenced discussions for a potential merger to jointly contest the 2026 assembly elections alongside the Congress party.
Akhil Gogoi, leader of Raijor Dal, confirmed this initiative to media persons in Guwahati on Wednesday (May 22).
A crucial meeting was held on Tuesday (May 21), attended by Akhil Gogoi, Lurinjyoti Gogoi of Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP), and Ajit Kumar Bhuyan of Asom Jatiya Dal, along with Congress representatives.
The meeting led to two major decisions aimed at strengthening opposition unity.
“First, we have decided to continue our alliance with Congress and contest the 2026 assembly elections together,” said Akhil Gogoi.
“Second, we aim to form an umbrella organization of anti-BJP regional parties to safeguard the regional interests of Assam and its indigenous people, even after Congress potentially forms the government at both the Centre and in Assam.”
Gogoi also mentioned that smaller regional parties representing various ethnic communities would be encouraged to join this umbrella organization.
He emphasized the importance of unity to protect the interests of Assam’s indigenous communities.
Further discussions are underway to explore the possibility of merging the three major regional parties—AJP, Raijor Dal, and Asom Jatiya Dal—before the 2026 elections.
Gogoi highlighted the public’s strong support for opposition unity during the Lok Sabha elections, expressing confidence that this momentum would help defeat the BJP and its allies in the upcoming state polls.
Gogoi also projected that the Congress-led INDIA bloc in Assam could win at least six seats, predicting the defeat of prominent BJP leaders, including former Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal.
He attributed this potential shift to the BJP’s controversial implementation of the citizenship amendment act (CAA) and the party’s failure to address youth unemployment.