Assam assembly elections: Congress to lead weak Oppn as it wins only 19 seats

Guwahati: Congress party which got decimated in the assembly polls in Assam could just win 19 seats and will lead a weak opposition camp.

Two-time leader of opposition Debabrata Saikia lost election from Nazira seat. Saikia is son of Assam chief minister Hiteswar Saikia.Debabrata became leader of opposition in 2016 after Tarun Gogoi was voted out of power.

A senior officer in assembly said, “For leader of opposition 21 seats are required however there is a speaker order in 2025 which can allow leader of opposition even if it has 13 seats in 126 member assembly in Assam.”


In 2021 Congress party had won 26 seats in the 126-member assembly.

Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, “Only one Hindu candidate has won in Congress, the rest 18 are Muslims.”

Sarma said the electorate had delivered a verdict against “blue blood” politics. He said these people have failed to have independent identities. He said, “For how long will you be known as Tarun Gogoi’s son or Bhumidhar Barman’s son?”

Gaurav Gogoi is son of former chief minister Tarun Gogoi and Diganta Barman is son of former minister Bhumidhar Barman. Son of former minister Pankaj Bora, Santanu Bora was defeated in the New Guwahati seat.

He said they could not move beyond that royal lineage. I don’t personally feel joy in Hiteswar Saikia’s son losing,” he said.

Acknowledging the setback, Gaurav Gogoi took moral responsibility for the defeat. “As the president of Assam Pradesh Congress, I accept the moral responsibility of this defeat. While conceding his own loss."

Gogoi maintained that the party would continue its ideological battle. Congress would analyse the reasons behind the result, rebuild its organisational strength, and function as a constructive opposition, supporting pro-people measures while opposing policies it deems harmful.

From 60 seats in 2021, the BJP this time won 82 in the 126-member assembly. NDA together won 102 seats. Both Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and Bodoland People’s Front won 10 seats each.

Congress, Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP)and Raijor Dal have stitched an alliance. Raijor Dal won two seats. The All-India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) which fought the election on its own could win only two seats. TMC has won one seat.