Guwahati, November 12, 2025 — In a significant political development ahead of the 2026 Assam assembly elections, seven Opposition parties in the state have decided to contest the polls together in a bid to unseat the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies. The decision was announced by Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi, who described it as the first coordinated effort of its kind among anti-BJP forces in the state.

A New Opposition Alliance Takes Shape

Addressing reporters after the meeting, Gogoi said the parties had been planning the discussion for some time and that the talks marked the beginning of a “larger understanding” among Opposition groups seeking to present a united front against the BJP.

“Today we took part in an important exchange of ideas. We were planning to have such a meeting for a long time. We are together to rid the people of Assam from the BJP’s harassment and the injustices perpetrated by chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. In the next elections, we will ensure a people’s government in the state,” Gogoi said.

The meeting, held in Guwahati, was attended by representatives from the Congress, Raijor Dal, Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP), Communist Party of India (CPI), Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)], CPI (Marxist-Leninist), and Anchalik Gana Morcha. Together, these groups represent a broad ideological spectrum — from regionalist formations to left-wing parties — united by their shared goal of ending the BJP’s decade-long rule in Assam.

Notably absent from the meeting was the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), led by Badruddin Ajmal, which had earlier allied with the Congress during the 2021 assembly polls but fell out amid mutual accusations of vote-splitting and ideological incompatibility.

‘A Beginning, Not the End’: Opposition Leaders Speak

Gaurav Gogoi described the meeting as only the “first step” toward building a common agenda and seat-sharing framework for 2026. He emphasized that discussions would continue in the coming months to finalize joint strategies, candidate selection, and constituency coordination.

“This was the first such meeting of our parties to come to an understanding ahead of the next assembly polls. I am confident that we will fight the election unitedly against the BJP and oust it from power,” said Akhil Gogoi, MLA and leader of Raijor Dal, who has been a vocal critic of both the BJP and chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

Echoing similar optimism, Lurinjyoti Gogoi, president of Assam Jatiya Parishad, said that the coming together of multiple parties was “a positive development that sends a strong message to the BJP and its allies as well as to the people of Assam.”

Leaders from Left parties, including CPI and CPI(M), also underscored the need for a “broad-based secular and democratic alliance” to counter what they termed as the “communal and authoritarian politics” of the ruling party.

BJP Dismisses Move as Political Theatre

Chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma reacted sharply to the Opposition’s announcement, dismissing it as a predictable and ineffectual political exercise.

“The people of Assam have seen such attempts by the Opposition in the past four and a half years, and they are repeated like a TV serial. They come together, have tea at a hotel, embrace each other when they leave, and then accuse each other of betrayal. Such things don’t happen with the BJP and its NDA allies,” Sarma quipped.

The chief minister asserted that the BJP-led government’s strong grassroots organization and record of governance would ensure victory in 2026, regardless of Opposition alliances.

The Political Context: BJP’s Dominance and Opposition Fragmentation

The BJP currently holds a commanding majority in the 126-member Assam Legislative Assembly, with 64 MLAs, supported by its coalition partners — the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) with 9 legislators, the United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL) with 7, and the Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) with 3.

The Congress remains the principal Opposition force, with 26 seats, while the AIUDF holds 15, and the CPI(M) has one representative. The assembly also includes one Independent member.

Despite several attempts over the past few years, the Opposition has struggled to present a unified front. In the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, efforts to form a joint alliance failed after parties could not agree on common candidates for the state’s 14 parliamentary constituencies. The BJP went on to sweep the elections, further cementing its dominance in Assam’s political landscape.

Challenges Ahead for the Emerging Alliance

While Wednesday’s meeting represents a milestone in Assam’s Opposition politics, several hurdles remain before the alliance can present a credible alternative to the BJP. Chief among these is the absence of AIUDF, which retains significant influence in minority-dominated constituencies across lower Assam.

Analysts suggest that without AIUDF’s participation, the new coalition risks splitting the anti-BJP vote — a scenario that could benefit the ruling party. On the other hand, Congress and several regional parties are cautious about associating with AIUDF, fearing it might alienate Assamese nationalist and Hindu voters.

Another major challenge lies in seat-sharing. The parties involved represent varied political constituencies — while Congress retains a pan-Assam base, AJP and Raijor Dal draw their support primarily from Assamese nationalist circles, and Left parties command localized influence in labor and tea garden areas. Reconciling these diverse electoral interests into a unified seat distribution formula could prove contentious.

Furthermore, questions remain over leadership and coordination. Though Gaurav Gogoi, as the state Congress chief and a prominent MP, is emerging as the alliance’s central figure, regional leaders like Akhil Gogoi and Lurinjyoti Gogoi are also likely to seek significant roles in shaping the coalition’s strategy and campaign narrative.

A Bid to Revive the Opposition’s Fortunes

Despite the challenges, the meeting signals a broader recognition among anti-BJP parties that fragmentation has repeatedly handed electoral advantage to the ruling alliance. By forging an early understanding — more than a year ahead of the polls — the Opposition hopes to avoid last-minute negotiations and build a coherent campaign around shared issues such as unemployment, price rise, erosion of federalism, and alleged misuse of government agencies.

Leaders present at the meeting also emphasized the need to reconnect with voters at the grassroots level, particularly in rural and flood-prone regions that have witnessed discontent over land rights, evictions, and the implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC).

Political Analysts Weigh In

Political observers view the emerging coalition as a potentially significant but uncertain development. “The symbolic value of this meeting cannot be understated,” said Guwahati-based political analyst Ranjan Bezbaruah. “For the first time since 2021, the Opposition is speaking with some unity of purpose. However, whether that unity translates into electoral arithmetic will depend on how they manage internal contradictions.”

Others caution that the BJP’s strong organizational structure, extensive social welfare schemes, and the personal popularity of chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma make the task of dislodging the ruling party a formidable one. “The BJP is deeply entrenched in Assam’s political and social fabric. To defeat it, the Opposition will need more than just arithmetic — it will require a clear alternative vision,” said political commentator Ananya Saikia.

The Road to 2026

With just over a year remaining until Assam heads to the polls, the Opposition’s early start could offer strategic advantages if the parties maintain cohesion. More rounds of meetings are expected in the coming months to finalize a Common Minimum Program and seat-sharing arrangement.

For now, Wednesday’s meeting in Guwahati marks the first concrete step toward a broader Opposition realignment in the state — a potential revival of the anti-BJP space that has diminished over the past decade. Whether this unity of intent can endure the test of realpolitik remains to be seen, but for the first time in years, Assam’s Opposition appears ready to move in the same direction.

As Akhil Gogoi remarked at the close of the meeting, “This is just the beginning — not the end. The people of Assam deserve an alternative, and we are committed to giving them one.”