Assam Congress MLA Jakir Hussain Sikdar on Monday, 1 June confirmed that the party has launched a structured internal review process to examine the causes of its crushing defeat in the recently concluded Assam Assembly elections, in which the Indian National Congress won just 19 seats — its lowest-ever tally in the state. Party-appointed observers are currently visiting constituencies across Assam to collect granular feedback from workers, office-bearers, and local leaders.

What the Review Entails

Speaking to reporters in Guwahati, Sikdar said the observers are engaging directly with ground-level Congress workers to understand how campaigns were managed, what voter expectations were, and why support either held or eroded in specific constituencies. 'Whether we lose or win, there is always a need for review and analysis. The Congress party has sent observers to various constituencies to understand what exactly happened during the elections,' he said.

The feedback being gathered covers a range of factors — from vote counts and candidate performance to the effectiveness of campaign strategy and local organisational strength. Each observer is expected to compile a detailed constituency-level report for submission to the party leadership.

Findings to Guide Future Strategy

'They are discussing several issues such as how the election campaign was managed, what the expectations were, how many votes the candidates received, why people voted for us or why they did not support us,' Sikdar said. He added that only after all reports are submitted and discussed can the party arrive at a clear-eyed understanding of its electoral failure.

Sikdar urged caution against premature conclusions. 'Right now, different people are expressing different opinions. It is not possible to say anything conclusively at this stage. We have to wait for all the reports and complete information to come in,' he said.

Historic Low for Congress in Assam

The scale of the setback is significant. The Indian National Congress (INC) ended the recently concluded elections with just 19 seats, its worst-ever performance in Assam. The result underscores a deepening structural challenge for the party in a state it once dominated. Notably, this is not the first time Congress has faced a post-poll reckoning in the northeast — but the single-digit margin above a double-digit floor makes this cycle particularly consequential for the organisation.

Next Steps for the Party

Once observer reports are compiled and submitted, the party leadership is expected to hold internal discussions to identify specific shortcomings and chart corrective measures. Sikdar acknowledged that the process is still ongoing and that it would be inappropriate to draw conclusions before the full picture emerges. 'At the end of these discussions, the observers will submit a report. The Congress party will hold discussions on the basis of those reports, and only then can we properly understand why we lost the elections,' he said. The outcome of this review is likely to shape candidate selection and organisational restructuring ahead of future electoral cycles in the state.