Raijor Dal, led by MLA Akhil Gogoi, has officially ended alliance talks with Indian National Congress for the upcoming Assam Assembly elections. The party cited broken trust and unresolved seat-sharing issues as the main reasons for withdrawing from negotiations.
The announcement brings an end to months of discussions aimed at forming a united opposition front against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in Assam.
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Opposition Unity Plan Falters
In December 2025, several opposition parties had agreed to form a coalition to challenge the BJP-led government in the state. The proposed alliance included the Congress, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Raijor Dal, Assam Jatiya Parishad, Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation, Jatiya Dal-Asom, and Karbi Anglong’s All Party Hill Leaders Conference.
The alliance aimed to consolidate opposition votes ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. However, disagreements over seat-sharing and campaign strategies gradually weakened the effort.
Raijor Dal Accuses Congress of Breaking Pact
In a statement, Raijor Dal accused the Congress and its state leadership of undermining the agreement. The party specifically referred to a March 6 press conference where Congress, CPI(M), Assam Jatiya Parishad, and the All Party Hill Leaders Conference announced a joint campaign without Raijor Dal.
According to the statement, the move effectively ended the alliance.
Raijor Dal said it had shown flexibility during negotiations. However, the party claimed that Congress leaders pushed for what it described as “unconditional surrender” during seat-sharing discussions.
Seat-Sharing Dispute
The dispute mainly revolved around the number of seats Raijor Dal would contest.
Initially, the party demanded 27 seats in the 126-member Assam Assembly. Later, it reduced its demand to 15 seats under a proposed Common Minimum Programme (CMP) framework.
Congress reportedly offered Raijor Dal 13 seats. Of these, four were among RD’s preferred constituencies, four were designated for friendly contests, and five were seats suggested by Congress.
Raijor Dal leaders argued that the arrangement significantly reduced their influence in the alliance. Akhil Gogoi also opposed the proposed CMP, saying it failed to reflect the party’s priorities.
The RD leader further claimed that Congress did not respond to a follow-up letter sent after a meeting held on February 19.
Candidate Lists Add to Tensions
Tensions increased in early March when Congress released its first list of 42 candidates on March 3. The list included Gaurav Gogoi as the party’s candidate from the Jorhat constituency.
The following day, Raijor Dal announced its own list of 11 candidates. Some constituencies overlapped with those announced by Congress, including Margherita, highlighting the growing divide between the parties.
Assam Assembly Election Context
Assam will hold elections for its 126-seat Legislative Assembly in April 2026. The polls will be the first after the 2023 delimitation exercise, which redrew constituency boundaries across the state.
At present, the BJP holds 64 seats in the Assembly. Its allies include the Asom Gana Parishad with nine seats, the United People’s Party Liberal with seven seats, and the Bodoland People’s Front with three seats.
The opposition includes Congress with 26 seats and the All India United Democratic Front with 15 seats. CPI(M) holds one seat, along with one Independent member.
Akhil Gogoi Leaves Door Open
Despite the breakdown in negotiations, Akhil Gogoi indicated that discussions had not completely closed.
When asked about the stalled talks on March 6, the Raijor Dal leader said the party remained open to dialogue. “Our doors are open,” he said.
However, the latest announcement suggests that Raijor Dal now plans to move forward independently as the state prepares for a crucial electoral contest.
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