“Let Him Sit in Opposition Once”: Gaurav Gogoi Dares Assam CM

With a call to build a “Greater Assam,” the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) on Friday organised a massive public rally at Pathalipathar in Bihpuria of Lakhimpur district. The rally, held in the presence of APCC President Gaurav Gogoi, drew thousands of supporters, turning the venue into a sea of people.

Addressing the gathering, Gogoi said he wanted to speak “from the heart” and asserted that Assam is heading towards a decisive political battle. Referring to people waiting for hours to attend Congress programmes, he said the mood on the ground was unmistakable.

“People are ready to wait not just for one and a half hours, but even three hours. The message is clear—Assam wants Congress. Wherever we go, youth, women and elders welcome us with trust and blessings,” Gogoi said.

Launching a frontal attack on Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Gogoi accused him of arrogance and centralising power.

“He believes power rests only with him and that everything must happen according to his wishes as long as he remains Chief Minister. Such arrogance, such audacity. The people of Assam will show that he is not the decisive factor,” he said.

Allegations of Debt, Revenue Pressure and Governance Failure

Questioning the BJP government’s financial management, Gogoi alleged that Assam has been pushed into a debt trap.

“The government has taken loans worth ₹1.5 lakh crore and now has no money to borrow further. To raise money, liquor shops are being opened across Assam, toll gates are everywhere, land premiums under Basundhara have been increased, and traffic fines have been hiked,” he alleged.

He further claimed that government schools are being shut down due to lack of funds to pay teachers’ salaries, while private schools continue to mushroom.

‘An Opportunistic Political Journey’

Gogoi described Himanta Biswa Sarma’s political career as opportunistic, tracing his shifts across organisations and parties.

“He started with AASU, then came to Congress to save himself, and later jumped to the BJP for self-preservation. The day BJP loses power, he will jump again. He will want to return to Congress—but should we take him back? The people say no, and so do we,” Gogoi declared.

“If he is such a big politician, let him sit in the opposition once. His courage will vanish in a second,” he added.

Recalling the late former Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, he said Himanta Biswa Sarma was treated “like a son” but eventually betrayed that trust.

“Tarun Gogoi protected and supported him, and later regretted it. The same betrayal happened with Sarbananda Sonowal in 2021, despite Sonowal winning the mandate,” he said.

Controversies, Scandals and Family Allegations

Accusing the Chief Minister of misleading the public, Gogoi said,

“I have seen many Chief Ministers, but never one as misleading as Himanta Biswa Sarma. He tries to link me with Pakistan—has he been able to show proof in one year? Did anything happen on September 10?”

He also alleged that BJP leaders are joining Congress every month.

“Congress keeps its word. On the 10th of every month, BJP members are joining us,” he claimed.

Listing alleged scandals, Gogoi said Assam has never seen a Chief Minister whose name features in so many controversies—ranging from the Gir cow theft, rice theft from FCI godowns in Dhemaji, failures of the Jal Jeevan Mission in Lakhimpur with “pipes but no water,” to cattle thefts in Rangandi.

He further alleged land purchases by the Chief Minister’s family.

“We will go to Majuli to see the land bought by ‘Mami’. My late father was a three-time Chief Minister, but he never bought companies in his son’s name or acquired tea gardens. But Himanta Biswa Sarma has 17 companies in his son’s name, while youths migrate to Arunachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala for daily wages,” Gogoi alleged.

Land, Industry and ‘Greater Assam’ Vision

On land issues, Gogoi said people are not receiving land under the Basundhara scheme and claimed that while some brokers are arrested, “the biggest land broker is sitting in Dispur.” He warned that nearly 40,000 bighas of tribal land are being handed over to big corporate houses.

Calling for a “Greater Assam,” Gogoi said former Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi had kept the state united and on a path of development, unlike the present atmosphere of fear and arrogance.

“In the Greater Assam we envision, Assamese people will be progressive and productive. But today, tea, jute and silk industries are closing, and small contractors are suffering,” he said.

Allegations of Voter List Manipulation

Raising concerns over the electoral process, Gogoi accused the BJP of attempting voter deletions and urged people to verify voter lists online.

“Living people are being shown as dead, and even government BLOs are marked deceased. Elections will come and go, but the BJP’s greed for power is such that it wants to misuse the election process,” he alleged.

Zubeen Garg Case and Call for Justice

On the issue of justice for Zubeen Garg, Gogoi alleged links between the Chief Minister and Shyamkanu Mahanta.

“After an aide of Himanta Biswa Sarma met Shyamkanu Mahanta, the bail plea was withdrawn. As long as Himanta Biswa Sarma remains Chief Minister, Zubeen Garg will not get justice,” he said, urging people to stand firm “like Kanchenjunga” in the fight for justice.

Other Leaders Speak

Senior Congress leader Bhupen Bora recalled the BJP’s 2016 vision document and said none of its promises—on land, identity, floods, erosion, employment, farmers’ income and workers’ wages—were fulfilled. He urged party workers to take the BJP’s failures to every household.

AICC Secretary and APCC Co-incharge Manoj Chauhan said the people of Assam are ready for change and that “no one can save Himanta Biswa Sarma’s government this time.” APCC observer Bandhu Tirkey predicted a major political shift, while former Union Minister Pawan Singh Ghatowar called for unity and a decisive electoral fight.

Former Union Minister Rani Narah, former MP R.P. Sharma, Working President Rojelina Tirkey, Vinod Verma, Vice President Ghan Burhagohain, APCC Media Department Chair Bedabrata Bora, General Secretary Premlal Gunju, Shailen Sonowal and several other senior leaders were present at the rally.

Also Read: “Who Is Himanta Biswa Sarma?”: A Question Gaurav Gogoi Wants Assam to Ask