Assam Congress President Bhupen Kumar Borah emphasized the necessity of unity among opposition parties to effectively challenge the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the state. He stated, “In Assam, without unity it is not very easy for anybody to defeat BJP.”
Addressing the recent dissolution of the United Opposition Forum ahead of the by-elections, Borah, who initiated the forum (later renamed Assam Sanmilita Mancha), acknowledged the setback but remained optimistic. He expressed confidence in reuniting the opposition to present a formidable challenge to the BJP in the 2026 elections.
Reflecting on the previous Lok Sabha elections, Borah noted that despite the BJP’s ambitious target of securing 400 seats nationwide and Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma‘s confidence in winning 13 out of 14 seats in Assam, the actual results differed. He highlighted that the Congress secured 7.6 million votes, surpassing the BJP by 0.5% in vote share. Borah emphasized the need for unity and strategic planning, mentioning that an action plan is already in place. He plans to convene with other anti-BJP forces by December to develop a comprehensive roadmap.
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Regarding the upcoming by-elections, Borah expressed optimism about winning four out of five assembly seats. He pointed out that while the Congress had previously secured Samaguri, their positions in Behali, Bongaigaon, and Dholai were less favorable. However, he noted significant improvements in these constituencies and expressed hope for positive outcomes. Additionally, Borah mentioned that the Congress is contesting the Sidli assembly constituency for the first time in 20 years, following the conclusion of an alliance with a regional party in the Bodoland Territorial Region. He reported progress in Sidli as well.
