Assam: No compromise on Dhing; Akhil Gogoi warns congress

Raijor Dal leader Akhil Gogoi on Wednesday signalled potential uncertainty over opposition unity, stating that his party would find it difficult to move forward with an alliance if it is not allotted the Dhing Assembly constituency.

Addressing the media in Dhing, Gogoi said Raijor Dal has demanded only a “very small number” of seats as part of ongoing seat-sharing discussions, though he declined to disclose the exact figure, citing that negotiations are still underway. He, however, stressed that the party has sought a few specific constituencies, with Dhing being non-negotiable.

“We have demanded a very less number of seats, but some particular constituencies. If we are not given those constituencies, we would have no choice left,” Gogoi said, adding that Dhing is an “uncompromising seat” for Raijor Dal.

Referring to the previous Assembly election, Gogoi said Raijor Dal-backed candidate Mehboob Muktar had secured around 48,000 votes in Dhing, finishing second. 

Gogoi reiterated that the party has repeatedly conveyed to the Congress its intention to contest from Dhing in the upcoming election. “Everybody knows that Mehboob Muktar will contest from Dhing this year,” he said, urging the Congress to “leave the Dhing constituency to us on their own.”

Highlighting Muktar’s public standing, Gogoi described him as a secular figure with wide acceptance across communities. “You can judge for yourself who is more popular among the people of Dhing. Muktar, a former journalist, does not discriminate on the basis of religion or caste,” he said.

The Raijor Dal leader further stated that while the party has sought a limited number of seats in Muslim-majority areas, it has demanded double that number in Hindu-majority constituencies, underlining what he termed a balanced and modest approach to seat-sharing.

Gogoi’s remarks are being seen as a clear indication that failure to allot Dhing to Raijor Dal could jeopardise the prospects of an opposition alliance, with the party suggesting it would be left with “no choice” if its demand is not met.

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