Gaurav Gogoi right leader for Congress in Assam, says LoP Choudhury
Synopsis
AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal's suggestion that Dhubri MP Rakibul Hussain replace Gaurav Gogoi as APCC president has drawn a sharp rebuke from Assam's Leader of the Opposition, who called it unwarranted interference — exposing the fault lines in a fractured opposition bloc that must somehow coexist against the BJP.
Key Takeaways
Assam Leader of the Opposition Wazed Ali Choudhury on 23 June publicly backed APCC president Gaurav Gogoi amid a leadership controversy.
AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal had suggested that Dhubri MP Rakibul Hussain be made the new APCC president in place of Gogoi.
Choudhury dismissed Ajmal's remarks as interference in Congress's internal affairs, saying Ajmal has 'no right' to comment on party leadership.
Choudhury expressed confidence that Congress would win the Nagaon Lok Sabha seat in any upcoming by-election.
The row highlights ongoing tensions between the Congress and AIUDF as rival opposition forces against the ruling BJP -led alliance in Assam.
Leader of the Opposition in the Assam Legislative Assembly and Indian National Congress MLA, Wazed Ali Choudhury, on Tuesday, 23 June firmly backed Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Gaurav Gogoi, pushing back against calls by All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) chief Badruddin Ajmal for a leadership change at the helm of the state unit.
What Choudhury Said
Addressing reporters in Guwahati, Choudhury was unequivocal in his support for Gogoi. 'Gaurav Gogoi is a suitable leader. Gaurav Gogoi is there and will remain there. The Congress is not the Muslim League; it is a secular party. Badruddin Ajmal has no right to speak on matters relating to Gaurav Gogoi or the Congress leadership,' he said.
Choudhury further asserted that internal organisational decisions rest solely with the Congress leadership, and that interventions from rival party heads carry no weight within the party's deliberations.
Ajmal's Suggestion That Sparked the Row
The remarks came a day after Ajmal, the AIUDF supremo, publicly suggested that Dhubri Lok Sabha MP Rakibul Hussain should be elevated to the post of APCC president in place of Gogoi. Ajmal argued that Hussain's political experience, organisational capabilities, and grassroots connect made him better placed to strengthen Congress ahead of future electoral contests in the state.
Notably, Ajmal's remarks were seen as unusual given that the AIUDF and the Congress have long competed for the same opposition space in Assam, making his unsolicited counsel a politically sensitive intervention.
Congress Confidence in Assam
Beyond the leadership question, Choudhury expressed confidence in the party's electoral prospects. He claimed that Congress would win the Nagaon Lok Sabha constituency whenever by-elections are held there, and said workers across Assam remain united behind the current leadership structure.
According to Choudhury, the focus within the organisation is on ground-level strengthening rather than leadership churn.
Broader Political Context
The exchange has reignited debate over the opposition landscape in Assam, where both the Congress and the AIUDF have historically jostled for influence against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led alliance. This is not the first time inter-party friction between the two outfits has surfaced publicly, underscoring the fragile and often competitive nature of opposition politics in the state.
With assembly elections on the horizon, the question of who leads the APCC is likely to remain a live issue — and any further public commentary from outside the party could sharpen internal tensions further.
Point of View
Ajmal is effectively trying to shape the opposition's competitive dynamics to his own advantage. Choudhury's blunt invocation of the Muslim League comparison signals that the Congress is acutely aware of the optics — and determined not to let a rival define its identity. The real question is whether this episode nudges the two parties further apart at a moment when a united opposition might be their best bet against the BJP in 2026.
NationPress
23 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Wazed Ali Choudhury defend Gaurav Gogoi?
Choudhury, the Leader of the Opposition in the Assam Assembly, defended Gaurav Gogoi after AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal publicly suggested that Dhubri MP Rakibul Hussain should replace Gogoi as APCC president. Choudhury called Ajmal's remarks unwarranted interference in Congress's internal affairs.
What did Badruddin Ajmal say about Assam Congress leadership?
Ajmal suggested that Rakibul Hussain, the Dhubri Lok Sabha MP, should be made APCC president in place of Gaurav Gogoi, citing Hussain's political experience, organisational skills, and grassroots connect as reasons for the change.
Who is Gaurav Gogoi in Assam politics?
Gaurav Gogoi is the president of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) and a prominent Congress leader in the state. He heads the party's state unit and is central to its electoral strategy in Assam.
What is the AIUDF's relationship with Congress in Assam?
The AIUDF and Congress are rival opposition parties in Assam, both competing against the ruling BJP-led alliance. Despite occasional electoral cooperation, the two parties have historically contested the same voter base, making their relationship competitive and at times tense.
What did Choudhury say about the Nagaon Lok Sabha seat?
Choudhury expressed confidence that Congress would win the Nagaon Lok Sabha constituency whenever by-elections are held there, signalling the party's intent to consolidate its opposition presence in the state.
