Assam Polls 2026: Gaurav Gogoi says fight is ‘People vs a King’, signals new political alignment

As campaign activity gathers pace ahead of the Assam Assembly elections, senior Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi criticised the state government at a joint opposition convention in Dibrugarh, describing the upcoming vote as a public reckoning rather than a routine political contest.

 

Addressing the gathering, Gogoi said the election was “not a contest between political parties, but a fight of the people of Assam against a particular king.” Without naming anyone, he said voters were fully aware of who he was referring to and accused the ruling establishment of relying on money power, muscle power, communal rhetoric and violations of the law to secure electoral victories.

 

Gogoi said he believed the electorate would respond by coming together against what he described as politics driven by intimidation. He added that the outcome in Assam would send a broader message to the rest of the country against the use of money and fear in elections.

 

Terming the polls a referendum on Assam’s identity and self-respect, the Congress leader said people would not compromise on their culture, traditions, historical legacy and dignity. He said the democratic message from Assam could have a wider national impact and encourage similar resistance to injustice elsewhere.

 

Gogoi also alleged that the current government had fostered an atmosphere of fear, claiming that journalists, government officials and businesspersons were facing increased harassment. Such a situation, he said, had not been witnessed during the tenure of earlier chief ministers and was unprecedented in the state.

 

Hinting at possible changes in opposition strategy, Gogoi said that after this month “the phase of friendship will end and a new political direction will be decided,” a remark seen as a signal of impending decisions on alliance politics ahead of the elections.

 

The convention was attended by several opposition leaders and a large number of local residents, with repeated appeals to protect Assam’s peace, unity and cultural identity.

 

Concluding his address, Gogoi said the opposition was committed to restoring peace in Assam and ending what he described as the politics of injustice.