‘If Opposition Unites, BJP Is Finished’: Akhil Gogoi’s Election Warning

Raijor Dal chief and Sibsagar MLA Akhil Gogoi on Thursday underlined the urgency of forging a united opposition front in Assam, saying the electorate is increasingly demanding that all anti-BJP forces come together ahead of the Assembly elections.

“Today, the people of Assam are clearly looking for opposition unity. If we fail to unite now, there is a real danger,” Gogoi said while addressing media today. Emphasising the need for speed in alliance talks, he added, “The sooner the alliance is finalised, the more seats we can win. The longer it takes, the fewer seats we will get.”

Gogoi said Raijor Dal has deliberately sought a limited number of constituencies, asserting that the move is aimed solely at defeating the BJP rather than expanding the party’s own footprint. “We are asking for fewer seats only to ensure that the BJP is defeated in the election,” he said. \

According to him, Raijor Dal has emerged as the first choice of voters in several constituencies and is ready to begin joint campaigning as soon as the alliance is sealed.

“If the opposition comes together, the BJP will be finished this time,” Gogoi claimed, expressing confidence in a united fight against the ruling party.

Raising the issue of alleged voter list manipulation, Gogoi accused the BJP of large-scale deletion of voters’ names, leading to widespread anxiety among the public. “There is panic in many constituencies over vote theft. In several seats, nearly 20,000 voters’ names have been removed,” he alleged. Calling it a serious threat to democracy, he said, “All opposition parties must launch a mass movement on this issue and also approach the courts.”

Referring to constituency-level preparedness, Gogoi said Raijor Dal had announced its candidate in the Dhing Assembly constituency two years ago and pointed out that the party had secured the second position there in the 2021 elections. “We have only claimed constituencies based on our political strength. There are no conditions from our side,” he said, adding that party workers would be informed transparently after internal discussions.

On alliance negotiations, Gogoi said talks are nearing completion and seat-sharing discussions are progressing. “Political alliances, like relationships, cannot have rigid conditions,” he remarked, indicating flexibility in negotiations.

The Raijor Dal leader also announced that the party will release its election manifesto on Thursday, while the final number of seats it will contest will be declared the same day. He said 132 aspirants have already submitted applications for party tickets, with the deadline extended till January 30.

Speaking on governance and finances, Gogoi launched a sharp attack on the BJP government, claiming that Assam’s debt burden is rising at an alarming rate. “From 1947 to 2016, Assam’s total debt was around ₹42,000 crore. From 2016 till now, it has increased by ₹1.72 lakh crore,” he said. He alleged that the state’s total debt could touch ₹2.20 lakh crore in the upcoming budget and accused the government of running the administration on weekly loans.

He also alleged corruption in infrastructure projects, saying, “Flyovers are being built with a 20 percent commission.”

On the recent violence in Kokrajhar, Gogoi described the incident as “extremely unfortunate” and appealed for calm. “I appeal to both the Bodo and Adivasi communities to maintain peace,” he said. He criticised Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for being out of the state during the crisis, stating, “At a time when Assam is facing such a serious situation, the Chief Minister should return immediately and handle the situation.”

Concluding his address, Gogoi reiterated that Raijor Dal’s political strategy is focused on removing the BJP from power. “Our objective is clear—to defeat the BJP and protect democracy in Assam,” he said.

Also Read: Congress Warns of Statewide Agitation Over ‘SR Manipulation’, Alleges BJP-Election Commission Nexus in Assam