United Against BJP: Opposition parties in Assam unite for joint campaign; Alliance seeks to challenge BJP's hold on power

Guwahati: Four opposition parties in Assam led by Congress, including CPM, Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) and All Party Hill Leaders’ Conference (APHLC), on Friday announced they will campaign jointly for the upcoming assembly elections, effectively sealing their alliances and setting the stage for a direct face-off with the BJP-led five-party NDA.“From now on, we will undertake joint campaign meetings across the state. Discussions on probable locations in upper Assam have already taken place, and we will expand to other parts as well,” state PCC president Gaurav Gogoi saidGogoi, contesting from Jorhat, said, “We felt it was time to take our views together to the public. Hence, we will launch the joint campaign from now on.”The alliance is also in talks with Raijor Dal led by Akhil Gogoi.

“We are sending a clear message that from today, we are coming together. But our doors are open, and we are in talks with others also,” Gogoi said.AJP chief Lurinjyoti Gogoi added, “We have joined hands to send a clear message to the people that we are united in our journey to oust the communal BJP. Our united journey has started.”CPM leader Suprakash Talukdar called it a “good beginning,” while APHLC chief Jones Ingti Kathar said, “People in the hill areas are deprived of equal opportunities in education and jobs.

That is why we have decided to fight united. Our objective is to remove the BJP.”Congress has already named candidates for 42 seats, though seat-sharing talks are still underway. Friendly contests are likely in a few constituencies.In the 126-member assembly, BJP currently holds 64 MLAs, with allies AGP (9), UPPL (7) and BPF (3). Congress has 26 MLAs, AIUDF 15, CPM one, and Independent one.