Putting an end to speculation, the joint journey of opposition unity formally began today. In this regard, a joint press conference was addressed at Greenwood Hotel in Beltola, Guwahati by Assam Pradesh Congress Committee President Gaurav Gogoi, Assam Jatiya Parishad President Lurinjyoti Gogoi, CPI(M) State Secretary Suprakash Talukdar, and APHLC President John Ingti Kathar.
At the beginning of the press conference, APCC President Gaurav Gogoi said, “There is a possibility that the Assembly elections in Assam may be held before Rongali Bihu. Therefore, time is very limited. These 30 days are extremely valuable. The presidents of opposition parties have said that an alliance is necessary. The campaign that should have been carried out earlier could not take place because everyone was busy strengthening their respective organizational bases. But now it has become necessary to come together and take these issues to the people. That is why we have united today.”
He further mentioned that immediately after today’s press conference, the opposition parties will jointly launch campaign activities across Upper Assam, Lower Assam, Barak Valley, and the hill districts. Gogoi also stated that although they were not present in today’s press conference, discussions are ongoing with Raijor Dal, CPI, and CPI(ML). “We have long been saying that we want to unite, and from today that process has formally begun,” Gogoi added.
Speaking at the press conference, Lurinjyoti Gogoi said, “Today the four parties have come together to send a strong message to the people of Assam. Our journey begins today with the objective of defeating the communal BJP. In the coming days we will go to the people and inform them how the BJP government has pushed Assam into a grave situation over the last ten years. With the support of the people, we will remove the BJP from power. We will continue working to fulfill the aspirations of the people of Assam. Together we will fight and defeat the BJP.”
APHLC President John Ingti Kathar said, “Our first objective is to resist the destructive forces of the BJP. BJP functions according to the dictates of the RSS, and the RSS follows the Manusmriti. Manusmriti is anti-tribal. Today in Karbi Anglong we are being deprived in political as well as economic spheres. That is why we are trying to remove the BJP through a democratic struggle with the people.”
CPI(M) State Secretary Suprakash Talukdar said, “BJP claims this is a double-engine government—BJP at the Centre, BJP in the state, and BJP even in the panchayats. Yet today BJP is anxious. They have launched an ‘Ashirwad Yatra’. Despite being in government and having the blessings of corporates, they have received intelligence reports that they are in trouble this time. That is why they tried to obstruct the Congress yatra. Gaurav Gogoi was prevented from entering Namghars and temples. We feel proud of Zubeen Garg in other parts of India, but we feel ashamed in other states because of a Chief Minister who makes communal remarks. Today marks the beginning of our joint journey. By the time elections arrive, this alliance will grow even stronger.”
Replying to questions from journalists, Gaurav Gogoi said, “After this press conference we will discuss the places where we will jointly hold public meetings.” Referring to the NDA taking the support of AIUDF in the Rajya Sabha election, Gogoi said, “In the end the BJP had to take refuge in the AIUDF. For so long Himanta Biswa Sarma spread fear among people by repeatedly invoking AIUDF and making divisive remarks such as ‘Miya’ and ‘outsider’. But today he has embraced the same people.” He added that the BJP aligning with AIUDF is extremely unfortunate for Assam’s politics. “Because of an opportunistic Chief Minister, the condition of Assam today has become miserable,” he said.
Gogoi also remarked that Ajmal acts like a “108 service” for Himanta Biswa Sarma. “Whenever he is in trouble, Himanta Biswa Sarma takes Ajmal’s 108 service,” he said, adding that the same Chief Minister who once described AIUDF as an enemy may soon call them friends during his Ashirwad Yatra.
Responding to a question about a possible alliance with Raijor Dal, Gogoi said discussions are ongoing and the people of Assam will see the outcome soon. He added that they want to broaden the opposition platform and are continuing talks accordingly.
Gogoi also made a significant remark during the press conference, stating that several AIUDF MLAs had expressed their desire to join the Congress but were not accepted. “We clearly told them that the Congress cannot accept legislators from a communal party. But the BJP welcomed them,” he said.
On a question regarding the Chief Minister’s remark that the BJP would field a candidate from an ordinary family against him in Jorhat, Gogoi said, “The ordinary people of Assam are preparing to defeat him this time. In the last 25 years he has accumulated all the wealth he wanted. Now the people have decided to give him a proper farewell.”
Responding to journalists, Lurinjyoti Gogoi said that without the oxygen of AIUDF, BJP cannot survive in politics even for a minute. “Even when he was in Congress, Himanta Biswa Sarma played the politics of communalism. After joining BJP he continued the same politics. And suddenly today the ‘outsiders’ have become familiar,” he said.
Lurinjyoti further remarked that BJP has survived in Assam only because of AIUDF, and that it has now become evident that Ajmal is the political fuel for BJP. He also mocked the BJP’s Jan Ashirwad Yatra, calling it a “Jan Abhishap Yatra”.
“BJP has not undertaken a Jan Ashirwad Yatra; it has undertaken a Jan Abhishap Yatra. The BJP government has taken away 49,000 bighas of land from tribal communities and handed them over to Ambani, Adani, and Ramdev. While speaking of Hindutva, they have been involved in the Gir cow scam. They increased land revenue sevenfold. They have set up toll gates everywhere. Prices of essential commodities have risen. They promised to implement Clause 6 but have not done so till today. They had said foreigners would pack their bags on May 16, but nothing happened. And till today justice has not been delivered to Zubeen Garg,” he said, asking whether the people would bless such a party or curse it.
Lurinjyoti added that a BJP which has failed to deliver justice to Zubeen Garg will receive the people’s curse through the EVMs in this election.
At the end of the press conference, Gaurav Gogoi thanked the journalists and humorously said that he never asks the names of the owners of the media channels where they work and is not interested in knowing them either. “May the journalists do well. May all your jobs continue smoothly. May your families remain happy,” he said, adding, “Long live the world of journalism.”
It may be noted that senior Assam Jatiya Parishad leader and noted advocate Kamal Narayan Choudhury and former Chief Secretary of the Assam Government C.K. Das were also present at the press conference. The event was anchored by Bedabrat Bora, Chairman of the Media and Communications Department of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee.