Congress Targets 100 Seats in Assam Assembly Elections, Proposes 26 for Allies
Senior Congress leader and leader of opposition in the Assam legislative assembly, Debabrata Saikia, declared on Thursday that the Indian National Congress intends to contest in 100 seats during the upcoming state assembly elections. The party plans to relinquish the remaining 26 constituencies to like-minded opposition parties as part of a broader strategy to forge opposition unity against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Optimism Amid Delays in Opposition Seat-Sharing Negotiations
Saikia expressed optimism about finalizing the seat-sharing arrangement, stating, "I am still hopeful that our like-minded parties will not contest in the seats where Congress will field candidates. Our allies are a little upset about the slight delay in seat sharing, but efforts are on to finalise the opposition unity to defeat BJP." He emphasized that Congress would not interfere in those 26 seats, though nominations have yet to be filed, and he remains hopeful for a solid agreement.
BJP's Strategic Timeline and Opposition Challenges
Compounding Congress's challenges, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Wednesday that the BJP and its allies will decide on their seat-sharing arrangements between February 15 and 20. This move puts pressure on the opposition, as no details have been provided by Congress regarding their own seat-sharing deal, creating uncertainty in the political landscape.
Ultimatums and Candidate Announcements from Regional Parties
While Congress maintains its stance on contesting 100 seats, regional parties have issued ultimatums and begun announcing candidates. Raijor Dal (RD) president Akhil Gogoi recently set a January 31 deadline for Congress to decide on seat sharing, threatening to contest as rivals if the deadline is not met. Additionally, CPI state secretary Kanak Gogoi vowed on Wednesday to announce candidates in 7 seats, including Nazira, which is Saikia's constituency.
Further Complications from Hill Leaders' Conference
Adding to the complexity, All-Party Hills Leaders' Conference president JI Kathar announced on Wednesday evening three possible candidates from the Bokajan, Diphu, and Amri constituencies. He nominated Samson Teron and Bikram Hanse for Bokajan and Amri respectively, and himself for Diphu, contingent on Congress not finalizing the seat-sharing deal promptly. This highlights the growing impatience among allies and the urgent need for Congress to solidify opposition unity to mount an effective challenge against the BJP in the Assam assembly polls.
