The Indian National Congress has announced the formation of the State Election Committee of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) as the state prepares for Assembly elections later this year. Congress Member of Parliament Gaurav Gogoi has been appointed as the Chairman of the committee with immediate effect. The decision was conveyed through a letter dated February 3, issued by Congress General Secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal. In the letter, Venugopal stated that the proposal for constituting the committee had received formal approval from the Indian National Congress President.
The newly formed committee brings together a wide range of senior and experienced leaders from the party’s Assam unit. Along with Gogoi as Chairman, the committee includes Debabrata Saikia, Rakibul Hussain, Pradyut Bordoloi, and APCC President Bhupen Kumar Borah. Other members named in the committee are Ripun Borah, Paban Singh Ghatowar, Wajid Ali Chaudhary, Rosilina Tirkey, Jakir Hussain Sikdar, Pradeep Sarkar, Arun Dutta Mazumdar, Pranati Phukan, Rance Narah, Abdul Khaleque, Durga Bhumij, Ajit Singh, Nandita Das, Sibamoni Bora, Pradyut Bhuiya, AK Rashid Alam, Jadav Swagiary, Prithvi Majhi, Tanka Bahadur Rai, Praneshwar Basumatri, RP Sharma, Ghana Buragohain, Augustine Enghee, Meghnath Chetry, Balin Kuli, Hafiz Rashid Choudhary, Medi Alam Bora, Subhman Ali Sarkar, Gangajyoti Tayegam, and Mausom Baruah.
According to the letter, the committee will also have several special invitees. These include the APCC General Secretary (Organisation), the heads of all frontal organisations of the party, and the chairpersons of key departments such as the Scheduled Caste, Other Backward Classes, Minority, and Adivasi Congress wings. The Chairperson of the Tea Garden Cell of the APCC will also be part of the committee as a special invitee. The inclusion of these leaders is seen as an effort to ensure broader representation of different social groups within the party’s election planning process. The formation of the State Election Committee is considered an important organisational step as the Congress begins preparations for the upcoming Assam Assembly elections. The committee is expected to play a key role in candidate selection, coordination at the constituency level, and overall election strategy for the party in the state. Party sources said the leadership aims to strengthen internal coordination and improve ground-level planning through this committee.
Gaurav Gogoi, who represents the Kaliabor constituency in the Lok Sabha, has been a prominent face of the Congress in Assam politics. His appointment as Chairman is being viewed within the party as a move to provide focused leadership to the election process. Gogoi has been actively involved in organisational activities and has frequently raised state-related issues at the national level.The announcement comes at a time when Assam is moving closer to the Assembly polls, expected later this year. The Congress is gearing up to challenge the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, which is currently in power in the state under Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. The elections are likely to be closely watched, as both parties prepare for an intense political contest.