News Article: Major Party Change for Assam
Throwing down the gauntlet with Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, the Congress party named Gaurav Gogoi as its state president. This move comes after months of personal rifts between Sarma and Gogoi, with Sarma accusing Gogoi of links with the ISI andotherwrongdoings.
Gogoi, the MP from Jorhat, will now head the Congress in the state, a move made a year before the Assembly elections, which have been plagued by poor showings. Last year, the party lost all five seats in key Assembly by-elections and had poor results in panchayat elections.
Notable appointments include:
- Sarukhetri MLA Jakir Hussain Sikdar becoming the coordination chief
- Leader of the Opposition Debabrata Saikia taking charge of the Coordination Committee
- Nagaon MP Pradyut Bordoloi as the Manifesto Committee chairperson
However, some saw Saikia and Bordoloi as potential candidates for the PCC chief post but even the central leadership favored Gogoi, attributing his elevation to his appeal to young voters and his clarity on anti-BJP stance.
Behind the Change
Sarma and Gogoi have been rivals for some time, with Sarma’s exit after active campaigning over a year ago. Currently, the Congress is facing sternest competition in Assam from Sarma and his fellow BJPmindset voters.
Leader Surjeet Pal Tirimani agreed the leadership change will boost hope within the party. He added that while Sarma and his family are seen as possessing a positive electoral narrative, parties like Congress can lead if they can swiftly counter narrative talks about family ties, which are constantly now shared by politicians.
The Yes, the politics in Assam over the upcoming Assembly elections will likely come down to a head-to-head battle between Sarma and Gogoi, affirming the key influence of the Gogoi, the common fellow politics. Voters will be looking to see how the people of Assam support this change and if the party can still rise from the ashes in time.
In summary, the Congress has faced a significant change of leadership in Assam, with the brothers in arms Ganga Gogoi and Himanta Biswa Sarma engaged in a bitter personal battle over the reins.
Old Enmity
The estrangement between Sarma and Gogoi stems back to when Sarma was planning to seize control of the Congress in Assam following his father’s exit. Now, Sarma takes aim at Gogoi’s wife Elizabeth, considered an “Outer Come of Family Centric Politics.”
Sarma accuses Gogoi and his wife of links to the ISI, something Gogoi firmly denies. He’s also brandishing an SIT (Special Investigation Task Force) to crack down on this alleged conspiracy.
Fate of Gogoi
Gogoi had secured a seat at the Lok Sabha and even led the Congress’s no-confidence motion against the Modi government. Following his victory in Jorhat last year, Gogoi has the support of people since he has a strong connect with the people.
The next legal battle may now be waged in the upcoming elections for the Assembly, with Gogoi’s elevation upholding his anti-BJP stance and appeal to young voters.
In honor of the incoming leadership change in the Congress, efforts are underway to counter the narrative hoarding family connections and fight to reaffirm Gogoi’s sincerity and loyalty to the party.
Assam’s upcoming elections will hinge on the upsurge in ideological anxiety between Sarma and Gogoi, making way for their respective political narratives and hopes to decisively define the region’s electoral landscape.
As the Congress looks to harness the formidable Gogoi’s appeal, elections in Assam may well be a tale of battle though beams of lost hope.
