Congress severs alliance with Akhil Gogoi's Raijor Dal in Assam
Synopsis
Congress has formally walked out of its alliance with Akhil Gogoi's Raijor Dal in Assam, accusing the regional party of running malicious propaganda against its own partners. The split — formalised by an APCC circular — comes after a very public spat and deals another blow to an opposition that is already down to 19 Assembly seats against BJP's 82.
Key Takeaways
The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) formally dissolved its alliance with the Raijor Dal on 3 September , with immediate effect.
The decision was directed by APCC president Gaurav Gogoi and formalised through an organisational circular by General Secretary Ramanna Baruah .
Congress accused Raijor Dal of 'malicious propaganda, personal attacks' and 'baseless, unwarranted and derogatory' remarks against alliance partners.
A public confrontation preceded the split, with Congress alleging Akhil Gogoi acted as a 'government agent' and claiming his Sivasagar win was backed by Congress support.
In the Assam Assembly , BJP holds 82 of 126 seats ; Congress holds 19 , Raijor Dal 2 .
The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) on Thursday, 3 September formally dissolved its political alliance with the Akhil Gogoi-led Raijor Dal, citing repeated violations of opposition alliance norms by the regional party. The split takes immediate effect and marks a significant realignment in Assam's fractured opposition landscape.
How the Split Was Formalised
The decision was taken on the direction of APCC president and Deputy Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi. An official organisational circular announcing the dissolution was issued by APCC General Secretary (Organisation) Ramanna Baruah, giving the move institutional weight beyond a public statement.
What Congress Alleged Against Raijor Dal
The Congress said the alliance had originally been formed ahead of the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections to consolidate regional and Left parties under a united opposition front against what it described as communal forces. However, the party alleged that Raijor Dal leaders repeatedly targeted Congress through what it termed 'malicious propaganda and personal attacks' throughout the alliance period.
Congress further accused the Raijor Dal leadership of making 'baseless, unwarranted and derogatory' remarks against leaders of other parties within the opposition grouping. According to the party, these repeated incidents eroded the foundational understanding between alliance partners and made continued political ties untenable.
The Public Exchange That Preceded the Break
The formal split follows a sharp public confrontation between the two parties in the days leading up to Thursday's announcement. On the preceding Sunday, the APCC had publicly criticised remarks made by Akhil Gogoi and accused him of disregarding alliance discipline.
At a joint press conference, Assam Pradesh Mahila Congress president Mira Borthakur and APCC Media and Communication Department chairman Bedabrat Bora questioned Gogoi's conduct and warned him against allegedly acting as a 'government agent'. Bora also defended APCC president Gaurav Gogoi and former Leader of Opposition Debabrata Saikia, asserting that Congress leaders had been actively engaged in flood relief and rehabilitation work across the state.
Notably, Bora claimed that Akhil Gogoi's victory from the Sivasagar constituency was made possible by Congress support, arguing that Gogoi would not have secured the seat without the party's backing — a pointed reminder of the alliance's past utility.
Assembly Election Context
The political rupture comes in the aftermath of the Assam Assembly elections, in which the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged as the dominant force with 82 seats in the 126-member Assembly. Congress won 19 seats, while the Bodoland Peoples Front and Asom Gana Parishad secured 10 seats each. The All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) and Raijor Dal won two seats apiece, and the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) secured one seat.
With BJP firmly in power and the opposition already fragmented, the Congress-Raijor Dal split further narrows the opposition's ability to mount a coordinated challenge. Congress said it would continue raising public issues and hold the BJP-led government accountable over what it described as anti-people policies, injustice, and misgovernance.
Point of View
A fragmented opposition can ill afford internal attrition — yet the alliance has collapsed over conduct disputes rather than policy differences. The Congress claim that it delivered Akhil Gogoi his Sivasagar seat is telling: it signals that the party feels it gave more than it received, a resentment that often festers in unequal alliances. The deeper question is whether Assam's opposition can reconstitute itself before the next electoral cycle, or whether this split accelerates a drift toward irrelevance.
NationPress
3 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Congress end its alliance with Raijor Dal in Assam?
Congress ended the alliance because it accused Raijor Dal leaders of repeatedly engaging in malicious propaganda and personal attacks against Congress, and of making baseless and derogatory remarks against other opposition partners. The party said these incidents made continued political ties untenable.
Who announced the Congress-Raijor Dal alliance break?
The decision was taken on the direction of APCC president and Deputy Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi. The formal organisational circular was issued by APCC General Secretary (Organisation) Ramanna Baruah.
What is the Raijor Dal and who leads it?
The Raijor Dal is an Assam-based regional political party led by Akhil Gogoi, who won the Sivasagar Assembly seat. The party holds two seats in the 126-member Assam Assembly.
How does this split affect Assam's opposition?
The split further weakens an already fragmented opposition in Assam, where BJP holds 82 of 126 Assembly seats. Congress holds 19 seats, and the loss of even a small ally reduces the opposition's capacity for coordinated political action.
What did Congress allege about Akhil Gogoi's Sivasagar win?
Congress claimed that Akhil Gogoi's victory from the Sivasagar constituency was made possible by Congress support, arguing he would not have won the seat without the party's backing. The claim was made by APCC Media and Communication Department chairman Bedabrat Bora at a press conference.
