Guwahati: Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi on Tuesday ruled out any alliance with the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) for the 2026 Assembly elections, describing the party as “communal” and asserting that the Congress would not partner with it under any circumstances.
Addressing reporters, Gogoi said the Congress could not align with one communal force to counter another, likening the AIUDF to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He added that eight opposition parties have already decided to contest the next Assembly polls together with the aim of defeating the BJP in Assam.
The AIUDF had been part of the Congress-led grand alliance in the 2021 Assembly elections. However, the two parties later parted ways after Bhupen Kumar Borah assumed charge as the state Congress president.
On broader opposition unity, Gogoi said alliance-related discussions are not conducted in public and are instead pursued through closed-door talks. He maintained that official announcements would be made only after consultations are completed, adding that the upcoming elections would not be easy for the BJP.
Last month, Congress, CPI(M), Raijor Dal, Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP), CPI, CPI(ML), Jatiya Dal-Asom (JDA) and Karbi Anglong-based All Party Hill Leaders Conference (APHLC) joined hands to fight the assembly elections from a common platform.
ALSO READ: ‘India will not remain silent’: Himanta on Bangladesh leader’s Northeast remarks
The Assam Assembly elections to 126 constituencies are likely to take place in March-April next year.
At present, the BJP has 64 MLAs in the Assembly, while its allies—AGP, UPPL and BPF—have nine, seven and three members respectively. In the opposition, the Congress has 26 legislators, AIUDF 15, CPI(M) one, and there is one Independent MLA.
