In a significant political development that has sent ripples across Assam, the Congress party witnessed a massive influx of over 11,000 new members in a single day on Monday. This strategic gain is part of the party's concerted effort to strengthen its base ahead of the crucial 2026 state assembly elections.
A Strategic Monthly Initiative
The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) has designated the 10th day of every month as a formal occasion to welcome defectors and new members into the party fold. The event on Monday marked the third consecutive installment of this initiative, which began on September 10. APCC president Gaurav Gogoi reaffirmed the party's commitment to this expanding program, announcing that the next such event is scheduled for December 10.
Gogoi stated that the decision to institutionalize these joining programs stemmed from the overwhelming response from individuals disillusioned with the ruling government. "After witnessing the BJP’s failures, thousands wanted to join Congress. That is why we started district-wise programmes," he explained, highlighting the growing public discontent.
Key Defections and District-Wide Impact
The scale of the defection was notable, with significant joinings reported from key districts. In a major blow to the BJP, Lakheshwar Moran, the former president of the Tinsukia district BJP unit, crossed over to the Congress. He publicly expressed his dissatisfaction with the BJP's policies and declared his admiration for the Congress ideology.
The impact was particularly concentrated in the Philobari area of Tinsukia district, where nearly 1,000 individuals from various organizations collectively took Congress membership. Addressing a gathering there, Gogoi launched a sharp critique of the state government, pointing to pressing issues like illegal tax collection and the public's burden from coal, sand, and beetle nut syndicates.
He also lamented the declining state of Assam's iconic tea industry, invoking singer Zubeen Garg's words about the state's treasures—tea, rhinos, oil, and the artist himself—and alleging that these are now under threat.
Broad-Based Support Across the State
The joining event in Guwahati saw over 100 people formally enter the Congress party. The ceremony was graced by prominent leaders including the leader of the opposition, Debabrata Saikia, former APCC presidents Ripun Bora and Bhupen Bora, former MP Abdul Khaleque, and Assam Pradesh Mahila Congress president Mira Barthakur.
The new members were not just from political backgrounds; they represented a cross-section of society. The list included lawyers from the Gauhati High Court, senior citizens, and several former BJP office-bearers, indicating a wide spectrum of dissent against the current dispensation. Similar mass joining events were successfully organized in other districts including Jorhat, Sivasagar, Charaideo, Dibrugarh, Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Sonitpur, and Kamrup.
This coordinated and large-scale defection to the Congress underscores a shifting political mood in Assam. With the 2026 elections on the horizon, the party's '10th of the month' initiative appears to be successfully capitalizing on the anti-incumbency sentiment against Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's government, setting the stage for a highly competitive electoral battle.
