Congress picks Gaurav Gogoi as Assam chief ahead of 2026 polls, sends strong message to BJP’s Himanta Sarma | India News

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma and Congress chief Gaurav Gogoi (File photographs)

NEW DELHI: The Congress on Monday set the stage for a Gaurav Gogoi versus Himanta Biswa Sarma contest within the Assam meeting elections due subsequent 12 months. On Monday, Gogoi was elevated as president of the Assam Congress regardless of BJP’s all-out offensive in opposition to the Congress chief over his British spouse’s alleged reference to the Pakistan spy company ISI.Gogoi, the son of former Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi, has been engaged in a bitter, and sometimes private, warfare of phrases with Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for the final a number of months.With this transfer, the Congress has despatched out a transparent message to the BJP that it’s going to not go on the backfoot over Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s unrelenting assaults in opposition to Gogoi. Gogoi vs Himanta Hours earlier than this Congress announcement at this time, Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had fired a contemporary salvo in opposition to Gogoi and claimed {that a} senior chief of the grand-old-party had made a “startling confession” that Gogoi’s British spouse was on the “payroll of the Pakistan government”.The Assam CM was referring to the assertion of Congress chief and former Rajya Sabha MP Ripun Bora that Gogoi’s British spouse Elizabeth Colburn works in a global NGO, which has a community in Pakistan, together with different nations.“She might have visited Pakistan or got a salary for her work, what’s the problem with that? Likewise, many Pakistani people are working in India legally,” Bora had stated at a press convention.The Congress chief had additionally cited the examples of S Jaishankar and Ajit Doval to buttress his level.“Our external affairs minister S Jaishankar’s wife is a Japanese citizen and their second child is a British citizen. Does it mean that we should doubt Jaishankar’s patriotism?” requested Bora.The Congress chief additionally took the instance of National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval’s youthful son and brother, who’ve connections with Pakistan of their skilled profession.Himanta Sarma had final week alleged that Gaurav Gogoi had visited Pakistan on the invitation of ISI. “Whether he had gone to Pakistan or not, what is his children’s citizenship, whether his wife took salary from Pakistan or not, why he is waiting for the SIT, he can tell this to journalists. Himanta Biswa Sarma can tell a lie, but the Chief Minister of Assam cannot lie. If the Chief Minister of Assam lies, then a resolution should be taken out in the assembly, and the court can summon the Chief Minister. Wait till September 10,” the Assam CM had stated.‘Wait for knockout punch’Gogoi is but to give a direct reply or any clarification to these allegations. However, the Congress chief has questioned the psychological well being of Himanta Sarma and in addition attributed the chief minister’s offensive to “problems at the family front”. When requested for his reactions, Gogoi stated the folks needs to be affected person as a “knockout punch is delivered at the end” of a boxing match.In a sequence of posts on X, Gogoi had stated Sarma’s latest remarks have been “insane and nonsense” and that he was behaving like an “IT cell troll” with out speaking with details.“For some reason best known to him, I have been on his radar since my entry into Assam (politics). He has made many baseless remarks about me in the past 13 years. The most recent one borders on insanity and the absurd,” the Congress Deputy Leader in Lok Sabha stated.Gogoi additionally claimed that Sarma’s “inability” to present proof to again “Pakistan link” prices in opposition to the opposition chief is his “weakness”.Responding to a question about Sarma’s latest remarks that each proof will likely be introduced earlier than the general public by September 10, the Congress chief questioned, “Is this a movie where the release date is pre-fixed? Are we watching Singham 1 or Singham 2?”The rivalry between the 2 leaders began when Himanta Sarma was within the Congress and was the favorite to take over the occasion’s reins from Congress veteran Tarun Gogoi, who was then the chief minister of Assam. However, then Gaurav Gogoi entered lively politics beneath his father and began to get prominence within the occasion. This led to the exit of Sarma, who went on to be part of the BJP.Congress vs BJP The BJP stormed to energy in Assam in 2016, profitable 60 of the 126 meeting seats. While the BJP gained 55 seats in contrast to 2011, the Congress misplaced 52 seats. In 2021, the BJP maintained its rating of 60 whereas the Congress made a marginal enchancment of 3 seats and elevated its tally to 29.

Assam 2021 meeting election outcomes

As the 2 events gear up for the 2026 battle, the stakes are excessive for each the events. The Congress, which has misplaced two consecutive meeting elections within the state, will likely be determined for a win this time round. Gaurav Gogoi will hope to trip on anti-incumbency in opposition to the BJP and assist the Congress make a comeback within the state after a spot of 10 years.Himanta, who had give up the Congress in 2015, performed a key function in serving to the BJP conquer the northeast area. However, it was solely in 2021 that he was made the chief minister by the BJP. The 2026 elections will likely be a take a look at of his recognition as will probably be fought on his 5 years of rule. He will likely be eager to lead the occasion to a 3rd consecutive victory within the state.