Jorhat: “The upcoming Assembly election is not a contest between the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress; rather, it is a battle between two factions within the Congress. The 2026 electoral battle will be between the Congress led by Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma and the Congress that follows the ideals of the late Tarun Gogoi. (Assam Election 2026)” — This remark was made by Assam Pradesh Congress Committee president Gaurav Gogoi.
With only 18 days left before the Assembly elections, Assam Pradesh Congress Committee president Gaurav Gogoi, while campaigning on Saturday in Majuli in support of Congress candidate Dr. Indranil Pegu, said, “At first glance, it may appear to be an electoral contest against the BJP, but in reality, it is a battle between the real Congress and the Congress led by Himanta Biswa Sarma, which is merely carrying the BJP label. When the Congress was in power, those Congress leaders now carrying the BJP label under Himanta Biswa Sarma’s leadership had tarnished the government led by the late Tarun Gogoi. Because of this, people had started distancing themselves from the party.”
The state Congress president further said, “Former Congress members have now gathered at Vajpayee Bhawan seeking ministerial posts, MLA tickets, or other opportunities. With us are those Congress workers who follow the ideals of the late Tarun Gogoi. This Congress represents a new form. The people will see new faces and new energy here.”
The state Congress president also said, “In this electoral battle between the Congress led by Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma and the Congress guided by the ideals of the late Tarun Gogoi, the people will decide whom they prefer more.”
Referring to several Congress leaders, including Bhupen Bora and Pradyut Bordoloi, who moved from Congress to the BJP, Gogoi said, “With these Congress leaders joining the BJP, the Congress party has become cleaner and stronger.”
Alleging that Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma persuaded some Congress leaders into joining the BJP, the state Congress president said, “This is an old strategy of Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma. During the Lok Sabha elections, some of my close associates were taken to the BJP. But as a result, our public support increased at that time.”
Criticizing Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, Gaurav Gogoi said, “Since Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma assumed the office of Chief Minister, fear, panic, misinformation, and falsehood have become the BJP’s main weapons. This reflects their weakness. They have failed to win people’s trust through their work.”
The state Congress president further said, “In this election, the Congress is moving forward with a focus on the youth. We are confident of Dr. Indranil Pegu’s victory in Majuli.”
On the issue of denying a ticket to Titabar MLA Bhaskar Baruah, he stated that it was a party decision.
BJP Releases Full List of 88 Candidates for Assam Assembly Elections 2026