Congress fails to name LoP in Assam as internal rift widens: BJP
Synopsis
Congress holds 19 seats in Assam — enough to be the principal opposition — yet cannot agree on who should lead it. With the high command forced to step in after a deadlocked CLP meeting, the episode lays bare a party still struggling to function as a cohesive unit even in defeat.
Key Takeaways
Congress has not yet named a Leader of Opposition in the Assam Assembly despite holding 19 seats as the principal opposition party.
BJP MLA Biswajit Daimary blamed the delay on mutual distrust and factional divisions within the Congress Legislature Party.
A late-night CLP meeting failed to produce a consensus, with all 19 MLAs present but no name agreed upon.
Former Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel said the Congress high command will decide the LoP, Deputy Leader, and Chief Whip after consultations.
The BJP -led alliance won 102 of 126 seats in the Assam Assembly, leaving Congress as a heavily outnumbered opposition.
Congress has failed to formally appoint a Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Assam Legislative Assembly, with senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator Biswajit Daimary attributing the deadlock to deep-seated factionalism and a breakdown of trust within the party's legislative ranks. The stalemate persisted even after a late-night meeting of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP), underscoring the scale of the internal divisions.
BJP's Charge: 'No Trust Among Them'
Senior BJP MLA Biswajit Daimary launched a pointed attack on Congress on Monday, 25 May, arguing that mutual distrust among its legislators was the core obstacle. 'There is no trust among them. Nobody is able to trust anyone else, and because of this, they have failed to elect the Leader of Opposition till now,' Daimary said.
He further alleged that factional lines had hardened within the party's Assam unit. 'One group trusts one leader while another group backs someone else. There is no mutual faith within the Congress anymore, and that is clearly coming out now,' he remarked. According to Daimary, the late-night CLP meeting failed to break the impasse, with no consensus emerging even after extended deliberations.
Congress High Command Steps In
Former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, who attended the CLP meeting in Guwahati, said on Sunday that the central leadership would announce the LoP after completing consultations with party legislators. Baghel described the CLP meeting as having concluded 'successfully,' with all 19 Congress MLAs present.
'A unanimous resolution was passed authorising the high command to decide who will be the leader of the Legislature Party, Deputy Leader and Chief Whip,' Baghel said. The resolution effectively hands the decision upward — a move that critics argue reflects an inability to build consensus at the state level.
Assembly Arithmetic and Political Context
Congress holds 19 seats in the 126-member Assam Assembly, making it the principal opposition party despite a heavily lopsided result. The BJP-led alliance secured 102 seats, delivering a crushing defeat to the opposition in the recently concluded state elections.
The delay in naming an LoP is notable because the post carries constitutional significance — the LoP is entitled to the status of a Cabinet minister and plays a formal role in legislative proceedings. Notably, this is not the first time Congress has struggled to settle internal leadership questions in a state where it has been reduced to a rump opposition.
What Happens Next
The Congress high command is expected to announce the LoP, Deputy Leader, and Chief Whip for the Assam Assembly following the completion of central-level consultations. Until a formal appointment is made, the party's legislative effectiveness in the state Assembly remains constrained, handing the ruling BJP an additional political talking point.
Point of View
But it does not address the underlying factional arithmetic. For a party that needs to rebuild credibility as a functional opposition, projecting internal disarray at the very first post-election hurdle is a costly signal. The BJP, for its part, has every incentive to amplify the narrative — and Daimary's public broadside suggests it intends to do exactly that.
NationPress
28 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has Congress not named a Leader of Opposition in the Assam Assembly?
Congress has been unable to reach an internal consensus on who should serve as Leader of Opposition, with factional divisions preventing agreement even after a late-night CLP meeting. The party has now authorised the central high command to make the appointment.
What did BJP's Biswajit Daimary say about Congress?
Senior BJP MLA Biswajit Daimary said that a lack of mutual trust among Congress legislators was the primary reason the party had failed to elect an LoP. He alleged that competing factions each backed different leaders, making consensus impossible.
How many seats does Congress hold in the Assam Assembly?
Congress holds 19 seats in the 126-member Assam Assembly and is the principal opposition party. The BJP-led alliance won 102 seats in the same election.
What did Bhupesh Baghel say about the CLP meeting?
Former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said the CLP meeting concluded successfully with all 19 Congress MLAs present. He added that a unanimous resolution was passed authorising the high command to decide the LoP, Deputy Leader, and Chief Whip.
Why does the Leader of Opposition post matter?
The Leader of Opposition holds a constitutionally recognised position equivalent in status to a Cabinet minister and plays a formal role in legislative proceedings, including committee appointments and official oversight functions.
