Opposition Unity Delay Sends ‘Wrong Signal’, says Raijor Dal; Party Attacks Assam CM Over New Official Residence Plan

Amid growing uncertainty over opposition unity ahead of the 2026 Assam Assembly elections, Raijor Dal on Tuesday mounted pressure on the Congress to immediately finalise seat-sharing arrangements, while launching a scathing attack on the state chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma government over the proposed construction of a new official residence for the Chief Minister at Amingaon.

The party warned that continued delay in opposition coordination is sending a negative message among the people and could ultimately benefit the BJP in the run-up to the Assembly polls.

Opposition Unity and Seat Sharing

Addressing a press conference at the Raijor Dal headquarters in Guwahati, Working President Bhasco De Saikia and General Secretaries Russel Hussain and Dhaijya Konwar spoke at length on opposition unity and seat-sharing arrangements.

Raijor Dal urged the Congress to immediately clarify its stand and finalise seat-sharing at the earliest. The party demanded that Congress leave specific seats for Raijor Dal in Upper Assam, Lower Assam, Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR), and the Barak Valley, enabling it to contest the 2026 Assembly elections effectively.

Working President Bhasco De Saikia said Raijor Dal has been carrying out organisational work in almost all Assembly constituencies across Assam and has already submitted a list of constituencies it wishes to contest to the Congress.

He urged that seat-sharing be finalised by January 31, adding that prolonged uncertainty would weaken opposition preparedness. He also stated that 132 aspirants have so far applied for party tickets across 53 constituencies.

General Secretary Russel Hussain recalled that during the last Lok Sabha elections, Raijor Dal workers actively campaigned to ensure the victory of opposition candidates in Dibrugarh, Jorhat, Dhubri, Lakhimpur, and Sribhumi.

He claimed that leaders like Gaurav Gogoi in Jorhat and Rakibul Hussain in Dhubri won by huge margins largely due to the efforts of Akhil Gogoi and Raijor Dal workers, despite Raijor Dal contesting limited seats.

Raijor Dal said it intends to contest around 20 of the 126 Assembly seats, but added that it remains open to adjustments in the interest of opposition unity.

Objection to Chief Minister’s Proposed Residence

Raijor Dal chief Akhil Gogoi strongly opposed the proposed construction of a 25,000 sq ft official residence for the Chief Minister at Amingaon (North Guwahati), questioning the necessity of the project when the Chief Minister already has multiple official residences.

He said commuting daily from Amingaon to Dispur would worsen traffic congestion in Guwahati and questioned why a new residence was required when official residences already exist at Koinadhara and Uzanbazar.

Calling the decision arbitrary, Akhil Gogoi alleged that the government took the decision without public consultation. He accused the Chief Minister of pushing unnecessary construction projects despite public opposition, citing developments related to AIIMS, IIT, the High Court complex, and river front projects.

He also questioned whether shifting key infrastructure to Amingaon is part of a long-term plan to relocate the state capital, describing it as a possible election-time campaign strategy.

Allegations of Misuse of Public Funds

Akhil Gogoi alleged that Assam has taken loans amounting to ₹1.80 lakh crore during Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s tenure, claiming the funds are being spent on indiscriminate construction instead of essential sectors.

He said Assam remains among the fourth poorest states in the country, has one of the worst healthcare indicators, and records one of the highest maternal mortality rates, yet the Chief Minister, he alleged, enjoys four modern official residences funded by public money.

He also criticised the frequent use of helicopters and chartered aircraft by the Chief Minister, alleging misuse of public funds, including helicopter travel for private events.

Urban Development and Public Impact

The Raijor Dal chief blamed excessive flyover construction in Guwahati for the decline of traditional markets, saying areas such as Chandmari have suffered as commuters now bypass the locality and travel directly from Noonmati to the Guwahati railway station.

He further recalled that during the construction of the Brahmaputra river front, soil was dumped into the Brahmaputra up to a stretch of nearly 50 metres. Even at that time, the Chief Minister did not seek any public consultation.

Sharp Political Remarks

Akhil Gogoi criticised both AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal and Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, accusing both leaders of indulging in communal politics and stating that the people of Assam must reject both.

He asserted that if Raijor Dal comes to power, all foreigners who entered Assam after 1971, irrespective of religion, would be expelled, while Indian citizens would be provided proper identification.

He reiterated that despite facing harassment and imprisonment during previous Congress regimes, he chose to ally with the Congress only to defeat what he termed the “BJP threat.”

Raijor Dal once again appealed for immediate finalisation of opposition unity, warning that any further delay would benefit the BJP.

Akhil Gogoi said that if no alliance is reached by January 31, the party will announce the list of constituencies where it is confident of winning.

Calling Raijor Dal a self-respecting regional party, he said the party will oppose any decision that goes against Assam’s interests, regardless of who takes it.

Chief Minister’s Response

Meanwhile, responding to the criticism, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the proposed residence is not his personal property but an official residence for the Chief Minister of Assam.

“This is not Himanta Biswa Sarma’s private residence. It will be an official residence of the state Chief Minister,” Sarma said.

Referring to Akhil Gogoi’s criticism, the Chief Minister said, “Akhil Gogoi himself is claiming that the BJP government will not be able to form the government after the coming elections. Then why is he saying that it is my personal residence?”

He added that such statements indirectly suggest confidence in the BJP’s return to power. “Indirectly, he is claiming that the BJP will form the government once again after the elections and I will be the Chief Minister again,” Sarma said.

The Chief Minister also pointed out that the construction would take several years to complete. “Just think how many days it will require to complete the Chief Minister’s official residence. It will take more than four to five years. What I feel is that by the time it is ready, I might not even be the Chief Minister of the state,” he said.

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