Congress Prioritizes Candidate Selection Before Opposition Alliance Talks in Assam
In a significant development for Assam's political landscape, Congress state president Gaurav Gogoi has established a clear precondition for seat-sharing negotiations among opposition parties. He emphasized that discussions will gain momentum only after the Congress party finalizes its "strong candidates" for approximately 100 of the 126 assembly constituencies.
High Enthusiasm Among Ticket Aspirants
Gaurav Gogoi revealed that the party has received an impressive 750 applications for tickets across all assembly seats by this week. This overwhelming response indicates substantial enthusiasm among potential candidates seeking to represent the Congress in the upcoming elections.
During a media interaction at Howraghat in Karbi Anglong on Wednesday evening, Gogoi explained the party's strategy. "First competition is among our people to decide who are the most powerful in Congress to contest in the 100 seats where our party is going to contest in this assembly election," he stated.
Opposition Calls for Early Alliance Finalization
Raijor Dal president Akhil Gogoi has emerged as the most vocal advocate for early seat-sharing arrangements among opposition parties. He argues that timely alliance formation is crucial for better electoral preparation.
At a separate media conference on Thursday, Akhil Gogoi announced that Raijor Dal would declare on Friday the specific seats from which it intends to contest. He warned about the consequences of delay, stating, "If we keep on delaying the alliance finalisation, the govt side will take advantage and the opposition's possibility of winning will keep on declining."
Congress Confident Despite BJP's Claims
Congress leaders and workers have expressed confidence in their ability to defeat the BJP in the upcoming assembly elections, despite the ruling party's assertions about an easy victory for its alliance. This confidence appears rooted in the party's grassroots strength and the substantial interest shown by potential candidates.
Gaurav Gogoi continued his political engagements in Upper Assam on Thursday, addressing a divisional meeting of party leaders and workers from several districts at Tiloi village market in Moran. During this gathering, he made an interesting observation about campaign dynamics.
Grassroots Workers as Star Campaigners
Unlike the BJP, which often relies on high-profile star campaigners, Gaurav Gogoi emphasized that Congress's strength lies in its grassroots workers. "The grassroots workers themselves are the star campaigners of the Congress," he declared, highlighting the party's bottom-up approach to election campaigning.
Background of the Opposition Alliance
The current discussions follow a November meeting where Gaurav Gogoi announced that multiple opposition parties would contest the assembly polls together. The proposed alliance includes:
- Congress
- Raijor Dal
- Assam Jatiya Parishad
- Anchalik Gana Morcha
- CPM
- CPI
- CPI(ML)
- APHLC
This broad coalition represents a significant attempt to consolidate opposition forces against the ruling BJP-led alliance in Assam.
The political developments suggest a strategic approach by Congress to strengthen its own position before engaging in complex alliance negotiations, while other opposition parties push for quicker decision-making to maximize their electoral prospects.
