NEW DELHI: The Congress on Monday appointed Lok Sabha member and Deputy Leader of Opposition Gaurav Gogoi as its Assam chief. The party also appointed three new working presidents - Jakir Hussain Sikdar, Roselina Tirkey and Pradip Sarkar - to its Assam unit.
The next assembly election in Assam is slated for May 2026.
"Congress President has appointed Gaurav Gogoi as the President and three Working Presidents of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee, with immediate effect," a statement from AICC general secretary K C Venugopal said.
Gogoi, son of three-time former Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, is currently the deputy leader of the Congress party in Lok Sabha. Gogoi will replace Bhupen Kumar Borah, under whom the Congress did not win a single election.
Following his appointment, the Jorhat MP expressed gratitude to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Venugopal and general secretary in-charge of Assam, Jitendra Singh.
"Former PCC President Shri @BhupenKBorah led the party from the front and made a tremendous contribution. I would not have been here without the guidance of my parents and the support of my family, especially my wife and children," Gogoi said in a post on X.
He also said that it was a blessing to work with many dedicated and inspiring senior leaders and workers in the Congress party in Assam.
"Their wisdom, experience and dedication to the party has taught me many things. I look forward to working with my seniors and colleagues. In the days to come I will seek the blessings of the people of Assam. I am confident that together we can create a better future for our state. Joi Ai Axom ! Jai Hind!" he added.
The statement by Venugopal said the party appreciates the contributions of the outgoing PCC president Borah.
"Roselina Tirkey is being relieved of her current responsibilities as AICC Secretary," it said.
With Gogoi's appointment as the new Assam Congress chief, the party has made it clear that the next assembly election will be fought under his leadership, and he is likely to be its chief ministerial face in the state.
"Congress President has also approved the proposal for the appointment of Chairpersons of Campaign Committee, Coordination Committee, Manifesto Committee, Publicity Committee and Election Management Committee of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee, with immediate effect," Venugopal said.
While outgoing president Borah has been appointed chairperson of the Campaign Committee, Debabrata Saikia will head the Coordination Committee, Lok Sabha MP Pradyut Bordoloi will chair the Manifesto Committee and Rakibul Hussain, Lok Sabha MP, will be the chairperson of the Publicity Committee.
Gogoi was first elected to the Lok Sabha in 2014 from Kaliabor in central Assam and re-elected from the same seat 2019.
He, however, contested the 2024 polls from upper Assam’s Jorhat seat and won by defeating sitting MP Topon Kumar Gogoi of the BJP.
The Kaliabor seat had undergone massive demographic changes after the delimitation exercise, making the Congress leadership to field Gogoi from the prestigious Jorhat seat.
Widely known as a bitter rival of the chief minister, his victory from the Jorhat seat was massive, considering that the BJP had gone all guns blazing to defeat him.
His appointment as the Congress’ state chief did not come as a surprise to many because there was a perception that the Congress would go to Assembly polls with Gogoi leading from the front.
He belongs to the Ahom community which has a large number of voters in upper Assam. His Jorhat constituency spans across three districts – Jorhat, Sivasagar and Charaideo.
The BJP had a spectacular performance in the recent panchayat elections, including in upper Assam. However, observers say Assembly polls are a different ball game altogether and Gogoi could be a factor for the BJP in upper Assam.
(With inputs from PTI)
