The face of the 2024 Lok Sabha Poll in Assam for the Congress Party is now the chief of APCC. The Congress party on 26th May, 2025 made Jorhat MP Gaurav Gogoi as the president of Assam Pradesh Congress Party. Now the real play begins.
The long demand for change of chief in Assam Congress has been heard well and the message is well delivered as the All India Congress Committee on 26th May, 2025 finally made it official to put the Jorhat MP in a chair which had long been demanded. The decision of AICC brightens the minds of congress party workers across the state giving them a hope for next year’s Assembly polls.
What’s ahead:
Over the years since 2021, Gaurav Gogoi has matured a lot being a novice in State politics to suave leader right now. Mr Gogoi made an imprint with his performance in the last LS poll in the State as well as becoming a key factor for BJP in the bye election to 5 assembly seats held in November 2024.
Gaurav Gogoi who has been off late embroiled in unwarranted attention created by BJP over his Pakistan connection is now able to create a counter strategy of his own. The repeated allegations by BJP leader and CM of Assam Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma on Gogoi regarding his visit to Pakistan, is confusing the mass with multiple myths. Although there is no official claim or allegations against Gaurav Gogoi, the mud slugging has had an impact among voters. Now, Gaurav Gogoi needs to head on this in full wing to win back faits of Assamese people.
Equations of 2026 Assembly elections:
Gaurav Gogoi now being the head of Congress party in Assam must keep certain things in mind. Gogoi must avoid the AIUDF factor for good, after its debacle in Lok Sabha 2024, Badaruddin Ajmal (once a rescue ranger of Muslims) is trying to regain ground but his party colleagues (including MLAs) are now more interested in Congress party.
The delimitation factor or say scenario in 2024 made it clear that Muslim community in Assam are now with the Congress party only. Meanwhile, the Congress has to worry about winning back the hearts of the greater Brahmaputra valley.
Mr Gogoi himself an Ahom must start campaigning on that pitch for recapturing the people mandate in Ahom dominated constituencies of Upper Assam.
Meanwhile, Gaurav Gogoi must take all anti BJP parties into its fold in Assam for the upcoming polls in BTC and then the Assembly next year. The APCC president should be in line with other regional forces like Lurinjyoti Gogoi and Akhil Gogoi along with BTC leadership.
Is Gaurav the next CM?
It is too early to presume that but with the announcement for him to be the chief of Assam Congress, Gaurav Gogo must now jump into the aggressive mode of campaigning to make the difference.
Journalist:Sonit Kumar goswami