“Most Dangerous Day for Himanta Is When Assam Wakes Up”: Gogoi in Scathing Attack

The Congress party on Sunday organised a large-scale joining programme at the Manabendra Sharma Complex, signalling a major political churn in Assam ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.

Leaders from multiple political formations, including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), formally joined the Congress in the presence of Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Gaurav Gogoi, giving the event the character of a decisive show of strength.

A key highlight of the programme was the induction of former All Assam Minorities Students’ Union (AAMSU) president Rejaul Karim Sarkar into the Congress. Addressing the gathering after joining the party, Sarkar said he had “seen difficult times in the past” and had chosen Congress to work towards restoring peace, harmony and dignity in Assam.

“I do not want an Assam driven by hatred and violence,” Sarkar said, expressing confidence that under Gaurav Gogoi’s leadership a “beautiful and inclusive Assam” could be rebuilt. “This platform will be used to raise every issue concerning the people and take Assam forward. Minority communities face several challenges, and I will work sincerely from this platform to find permanent solutions,” he added.

Sarkar further asserted that he would stand as a “soldier” alongside Gaurav Gogoi to remove what he described as an atmosphere of fear prevailing in the state.

Welcoming the new entrants, APCC president Gaurav Gogoi launched a scathing attack on the BJP-led government, alleging that Assam’s land, identity and future are under grave threat. “People are afraid to express their pain, afraid to ask questions, and even afraid to step out of their homes. We have taken a resolve to end this politics of fear from Assam,” Gogoi said.

Projecting his vision of a ‘New Greater Assam’, Gogoi said citizens must live with dignity and courage. In a sharp personal attack on Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, he remarked, “The most dangerous day for Himanta Biswa Sarma will be the day the people of Assam wake up and realise that he is not a king. If he believes he will rule forever with arrogance, he is making a grave mistake.” Echoing his father’s tone, Gogoi added, “One day, the people of Assam will ask—Who is Himanta Biswa Sarma?”

Accusing the BJP of attempting to manipulate elections, Gogoi alleged efforts to introduce outsiders and fake voters in Guwahati and other regions. “We will not allow fake names in the voter list. Congress will set up Help Desks at the booth level to prevent bogus voting,” he said, questioning, “Who is Himanta Biswa Sarma to cut the votes of Assam? Who is Ashok Singhal to cut Upper Assam’s votes?”

Raising serious concerns over land issues, Gogoi alleged that thousands of bighas of land have been handed over to corporate houses such as Adani and Ambani, while eviction drives are being carried out for political reasons. “Save land and save identity from Himanta Biswa Sarma and his ministerial colleagues,” he urged.

Responding to repeated allegations linking him to Pakistan, Gogoi said such claims no longer bothered him. “People have understood that the Chief Minister’s statements have lost credibility. There is no difference between the Chief Minister of Assam and a ₹1,500 troll,” he remarked. He further accused the Chief Minister of criticising even former CM Sarbananda Sonowal in an attempt to divert attention from his own failures and alleged corruption.

Gogoi also alleged collusion between the BJP government and certain media houses, claiming that the Chief Minister is more focused on benefiting family-owned companies. “The people of Assam know where and how the Chief Minister’s family has purchased land. Is this why we pay taxes?” he asked, while demanding a white paper detailing how much money or how many contracts media houses such as Pride East have received from the government.

Reiterating that the Chief Minister lacks ideological commitment to the BJP, Gogoi reminded that Himanta Biswa Sarma was once part of the Congress before switching parties for personal gain. “If Congress comes to power, land acquired in the names of family members and associates will be reclaimed and redistributed among the people,” he asserted.

Commenting on a recent social media post by BJP leader Piyush Hazarika, Gogoi said comparisons between the economies of Karnataka and Assam were misleading. “Assamese people are self-respecting with a strong historical identity. To hide their failures, they are blaming others,” he said.

Referring to alleged police instructions not to register FIRs, Gogoi accused the BJP government of showing fake images to mislead the public. On alliance matters, senior leader Shibamani Bora said, “There will be 100 per cent unity.”

On candidate selection, party leaders said that under Priyanka Gandhi’s leadership as chairperson of the screening committee, candidates would be chosen in a transparent and effective manner. “Congress will form the government in Assam this time—100 per cent certain,” they asserted.

Reacting to the Chief Minister’s allegation that Congress sells tickets for money, Gogoi said, “What doesn’t the Chief Minister say? He is skilled only in driving issues. He made allegations about my Pakistan links but has failed to prove anything till date.”

Assam Mahila Congress president Meera Borthakur said people have realised that Congress is a party that thinks for everyone. “With strong management under Priyanka Gandhi, we will fight the elections effectively and form the government,” she said.

Leaders Who Joined Congress

Those who formally joined the Congress included:

1. Rejaul Karim Sarkar – Former President, All Assam Minorities Students’ Union (AAMSU)

2. Azizul Hoque – Former Advisor, AAMSU

3. Diluwar Hussain – Former Vice-President, AAMSU

4. Khan Hasanur Zaman – Former Leader, AAMSU

5. Shirajul Sarkar – Former Executive Member, AAMSU

6. Koushik Hazarika – General Secretary, Asom Yuba Parishad (AGP) – Reference: Mira Barthakur Goswami

7. Manoj Kumar Mahanta – Political Affiliation & Training: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP); Ideology: Deeply involved with the RSS as a trained volunteer; Notable Challenges: Faced severe security threats from ULFA in 1996 in Sivasagar, leading to relocation from ancestral home in Khanamukh to Jorhat

8. Arun Basumatary – Professional election management, working as GS in Block and Secretary in Kokrajhar District – Reference: Birkhang Boro

9. Chila Basumatary – CWC Member from UPPL (Kokrajhar) – Reference: Birkhang Boro

10. Rukma Kr Medak – College teacher from 1989, retired as Associate Professor on December 31, 2022 (North Bank College, Ghilamora); President of MMK for two consecutive terms in Dhakuakhana District; President of MMK Central Committee for three consecutive terms (seven and a half years); Member of All Mising Senior Citizen Association (AMSCA)

11. Minu Kalita – School teacher from Mangaldoi, Darrang – Reference: Madhab Rajbongshi

The joining programme was organised under the banner “Save Land, Save Identity”, which Congress leaders said reflected a growing unity among the people of Assam to protect their land, culture and future and to build a new, inclusive Greater Assam.

Meanwhile, in a significant push towards participatory democracy ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections, the APCC on Sunday intensified its public outreach initiative titled ‘Raijor Padulit Raijor Congress’ (Congress at the People’s Doorstep) with a massive mass contact programme in Guwahati.

The campaign, which began in Dibrugarh on December 6, saw an extensive consultative meeting in the state capital under the leadership of APCC president Gaurav Gogoi. Representatives from more than 20 national organisations and citizens’ forums participated, making it one of the most inclusive political consultations held in Guwahati in recent times.

Adding intellectual depth to the deliberations, eminent thinkers and public intellectuals including Dr Hiren Gohain, Abdul Mannan, Harekrsihna Deka, Dr Dinesh Baishya, Paresh Malakar, Dr Nabaneel Barua and Udayan Hazarika offered detailed inputs on governance, democracy, accountability and public welfare for inclusion in the Congress manifesto.

Renowned intellectual Dr Hiren Gohain described the Congress initiative of preparing its manifesto while in the opposition—and through direct public engagement—as a “positive and democratic exercise”. He said prioritising people’s opinions over internal party deliberations strengthens democratic institutions, and stressed that the Congress must take a firm and uncompromising stand against what he termed as the present government’s alleged irregularities, injustice and corruption.

The meeting was attended by senior leaders including Congress Manifesto Committee chairman Pradyut Bordoloi, Leader of the Opposition in the Assam Legislative Assembly Debabrata Saikia, AICC secretary Manoj Chauhan, former Assembly Speaker Prithibi Majhi, and other members of the manifesto committee.

The Guwahati Metropolitan District Congress organised the final two meetings of the campaign at Kahua Bon Resort. Addressing the media, Gogoi said the Congress deeply respects the people of Assam and believes any credible political document must be rooted in public opinion. He said the party has travelled across districts to consult organisations, civil society groups and citizens so that the manifesto truly reflects people’s aspirations.

According to the APCC, all feedback collected during the campaign will be carefully reviewed before finalising the manifesto. Manifesto Committee chairman Pradyut Bordoloi has already initiated in-depth research and consultations as part of the drafting process.

Later in the day, at the invitation of Guwahati District Congress president Swapan Kumar Das, eminent intellectuals Dr Hiren Gohain, Harekrsihna Deka and Paresh Malakar addressed district office-bearers and party workers, urging them to work with renewed strength and ideological clarity to defend democratic values in the run-up to the elections.

Several senior and socially conscious citizens also attended the meeting and shared their suggestions. Among those present were APCC general secretaries Shantanu Bora and Meghnath Chhetri; secretaries Suman Kalyan Bora, Kridip Barman, Matiur Rahman and Mousumi Neog; media department officials Rupak Das and Monalisa Hazarika; party spokespersons Bidisha Neog and Palakshi Das; and district leaders Bipul Chakraborty, Nitu Ranjan Saikia, Nirmal Sharma, Babla Choudhury and Gobind Rajak, along with leaders and workers of Congress frontal organisations.

The interactions under the ‘Raijor Padulit Raijor Congress’ campaign continued till evening. As part of the next phase, on January 12, members of the Congress manifesto committee will visit the residences of eminent personalities, including noted intellectual Mayur Bora, to seek further guidance and suggestions.

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