Assam Congress CLP leader announcement imminent, says MLA Sikdar
Synopsis
With the first session of the newly constituted Assam Assembly just hours away, Congress is yet to name its Legislature Party leader — but MLA Jakir Hussain Sikdar says the announcement is imminent. All 19 Congress MLAs are reportedly in contention, and the party is pushing back hard against any suggestion that the selection is being shaped by religion or community.
Key Takeaways
Assam Congress MLA Jakir Hussain Sikdar confirmed on 20 May that the CLP leader selection process is underway.
The formal announcement of the Leader of the Opposition in the Assam Assembly is expected 'very soon'.
All 19 Congress MLAs elected to the Assembly are under consideration for the CLP leadership post.
Congress legislators will participate as a united bloc in the oath-taking ceremony on the first day of the session.
Sikdar dismissed reports of internal confusion and rejected claims that religion or community is a factor in the selection.
Assam Congress MLA Jakir Hussain Sikdar on Wednesday, 20 May said the Congress high command is actively finalising the selection of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader for the Assam Legislative Assembly, with a formal announcement on the Leader of the Opposition expected shortly. His remarks came ahead of the first session of the newly constituted Assembly in Guwahati.
Congress MLAs to Present a United Front
Sikdar told reporters that all 19 Congress MLAs elected to the Assam Assembly would participate together in the oath-taking ceremony and subsequent Assembly proceedings. 'All Congress MLAs will participate together in the oath-taking programme along with legislators from other political parties. After that, we will jointly participate in the Assembly proceedings according to the scheduled agenda,' he said.
CLP Selection Process Underway
The MLA confirmed that the formal procedures for electing the CLP leader had already been initiated by the party. 'The procedures for electing the Congress Legislature Party leader are already underway. Very soon, within a short period of time, the leader of the Congress Legislature Party as well as the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly will be announced,' Sikdar said.
Responding to reports that Congress legislators might attend the first day of the session without an officially elected leader, Sikdar dismissed any suggestion of internal disarray. 'I have just arrived in Guwahati. Till this moment, the Legislature Party leader has not yet been officially declared. But tomorrow is mainly for the oath-taking ceremony, so there is no issue regarding that. The leader can be announced at any moment and we are waiting for the decision,' he clarified.
Party Rejects Religion-Based Leadership Criteria
Sikdar also pushed back against what he described as attempts by rival parties to communalise the leadership selection. He asserted that the Indian National Congress (INC) does not factor in religion or caste when choosing its leaders. 'In Congress, there is no discussion over who is Hindu, Muslim or Christian. Religion and caste are not factors in our party. Those discussions happen in BJP or AIUDF, not in Congress,' he remarked.
This comes amid a broader political context in Assam where community identity has repeatedly been a fault line in electoral and legislative politics. Sikdar's comments appear aimed at pre-empting any narrative that the CLP leader selection is being driven by communal considerations.
All 19 MLAs in Contention
Sikdar described all 19 Congress legislators as 'sons of Assam' and said consultations were ongoing to identify the right candidate from within the group. 'Discussions are going on regarding all 19 MLAs and a leader will be chosen very soon,' he added. The announcement, once made, will formally establish the Leader of the Opposition in the Assam Assembly for the current term.
Point of View
Even on the eve of the Assembly's first session, reflects the perennial tension within Congress between central command and state-level consensus-building. With only 19 MLAs, the stakes of a misstep are high — a fractured opposition at the outset would hand the ruling dispensation an easy narrative. Sikdar's pre-emptive rebuttal of communal framing is telling: it signals that the identity of the eventual pick is already generating chatter, and the party knows it. Whether the high command can translate a 'very soon' into a credible, unified opposition posture before the session gathers momentum is the real test.
NationPress
4 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Jakir Hussain Sikdar?
Jakir Hussain Sikdar is an Indian National Congress MLA elected to the Assam Legislative Assembly. He spoke to reporters in Guwahati on 20 May ahead of the first session of the newly constituted Assembly, confirming that the CLP leader selection is in progress.
When will the Assam Congress Legislature Party leader be announced?
According to MLA Jakir Hussain Sikdar, the announcement is expected 'very soon' — the formal selection process has already been initiated by the Congress high command. No specific date has been confirmed as of 20 May.
How many Congress MLAs are in the Assam Assembly?
There are 19 Congress MLAs in the newly constituted Assam Legislative Assembly. Sikdar described all of them as being under consideration for the CLP leadership post.
Will Congress have a Leader of the Opposition in the Assam Assembly?
Yes. Sikdar confirmed that once the CLP leader is elected, that person will also serve as the formal Leader of the Opposition in the Assam Assembly for the current term.
Why has Congress not yet named its CLP leader ahead of the first session?
Sikdar attributed the delay to the formal consultation and selection procedures required by the party high command. He dismissed suggestions of internal confusion, noting that the first day of the session is primarily for the oath-taking ceremony and the leader's announcement could come at any moment.
