Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi has expressed strong criticism of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), alleging that the party undermines the authority of Chief Ministers in the states. Gogoi highlighted the case of Sarbananda Sonowal, who, despite leading the party to victory five years ago as Chief Minister, was later removed from the position. Gogoi remarked, “Five years ago, the Chief Minister in the BJP was Sarbananda Sonowal, a tribal leader with an AASU background. And what happened to him? He won the election, formed the government, and was removed.” He further noted that leadership decisions within the BJP seem to be arbitrary, referencing an incident in Rajasthan where he claimed the Chief Minister was selected based on random choices.

Claims of ‘Musical Chairs’ in Leadership

Gogoi characterized the BJP’s approach to governance as one resembling a game of “musical chairs,” suggesting that the party does not treat the position of Chief Minister with the necessary respect and instead exercises control from Delhi. He emphasized that the BJP’s strategy effectively denies Chief Ministers the autonomy typical in state governance.

Aiming for a Congress-led Government

When questioned about his potential candidacy for the Chief Minister’s position in the upcoming elections, Gogoi clarified that his primary goal is to establish a Congress-led government in Assam. He stated, “Our only goal is a Congress-led government and to remove the fear that has been instilled in the people of Assam. Apart from this, I had no personal expectations.” His commitment to the party’s collective objectives remains a key focus.

Public Sentiment and Call for Change

Gogoi noted a growing sentiment among the populace regarding the desire for change after a decade of BJP governance. He remarked, “There is tremendous enthusiasm among the people because they can see that they are getting a historic opportunity to uproot the 10-year BJP government.” He characterized the current administration as one that promotes a “politics of fear,” and he expressed confidence that citizens are eagerly anticipating a new outlook for Assam.

Preparation for the Upcoming Assembly Elections

The Indian National Congress has announced the candidacies of 101 individuals for the impending Assam Assembly elections. The election will feature a contest between the BJP-led NDA government and Congress for the 126-seat assembly. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, the BJP government seeks to achieve a third consecutive term, while Congress is determined to reclaim power.

Electoral Statistics and Previous Performance

In the previous 2021 Assembly elections, the NDA coalition, which included the BJP, the AGP, and the United People’s Party Liberal, secured a total of 75 seats, with the BJP claiming 60 seats on its own. The Congress, allied with the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), the Bodoland People’s Front (BPF), and several communist parties, performed poorly, winning only 16 seats. Voter engagement was notably high, with a turnout of 86.2 percent from over 2.2 crore registered voters during the last election.

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