HT Correspondent
JORHAT, March 20: The uncertainty over a possible alliance between the Congress and Raijor Dal ended on Thursday night, with both parties agreeing on a seat-sharing arrangement after several rounds of discussions over the past few days.
Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Gaurav Gogoi, who is also the sitting Jorhat MP, and Raijor Dal president Akhil Gogoi jointly announced the alliance while addressing the media at the former’s residence in Nazir Ali late on Thursday night.
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As per the agreement, the Raijor Dal will contest 13 seats, including Gauripur and Goalpara East, where it will be engaged in friendly contests with the Congress.
Akhil Gogoi will contest from the Sivasagar constituency.
The seats allocated to the Raijor Dal include several constituencies where negotiations had been contentious, notably Dhing, over which both parties had staked claim, leading to a temporary deadlock in talks.
The Congress also ceded Margherita, where its candidate Prateek Bordoloi withdrew from the race on Thursday.
The development came after his father, Pradyut Bordoloi, joined the BJP earlier in the day.
Explaining the rationale behind the alliance, Akhil Gogoi said the decision was taken in the larger interest of the state and to defeat the BJP-led government under chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
Appealing to voters, he said a government led by Gaurav Gogoi would benefit the state, describing him as a young leader with a national profile.
“People have a historic opportunity to elect Gaurav Gogoi as the state’s future chief minister and help build a new Assam where development is inclusive,” he said.
He further alleged that there was public dissatisfaction, claiming that the BJP had altered the social fabric of the state.
Gaurav Gogoi thanked Akhil Gogoi and his team, as well as others who worked towards finalising the alliance.
“It is difficult for a party like the Congress to leave seats, but the national leadership agreed in the interest of the state and its future,” he said.
He added that the alliance was finalised after assessing ground realities and addressing concerns raised by the party’s high command. He also noted that several civil society leaders played a role in bringing the two sides together.
The Raijor Dal is set to contest in constituencies including Mariani, Dalgaon, Sissi Borgaon, Digboi, Bokakhat, Manas, Tezpur and Kaliabor, among others.
Meanwhile, Raijor Dal candidate Dr Gyanashree Bora filed her nomination papers from the Mariani constituency on Thursday. She was accompanied by supporters and a jhumur troupe during the filing.
Dr Bora, a former party spokesperson, recently resigned from her post as Assistant Professor at Goalpara College to enter electoral politics.
She said her decision to contest was driven by a desire to contribute to a better future and to counter what she described as politics of hate and negativity.
