GUWAHATI: A new political alignment is gradually taking shape in Assam ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. Three opposition leaders—Gaurav Gogoi of the Congress, Akhil Gogoi of the Raijor Dal and Lurinjyoti Gogoi of the Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP)—are moving towards forming a joint alliance, informally termed the “3G formula.” The proposed front aims to consolidate anti-BJP votes and mount a unified challenge to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and the BJP, which currently dominates state politics.
The idea gained momentum after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, when Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi won the Jorhat parliamentary seat by defeating the BJP candidate. His victory in a Hindu-majority constituency provided renewed confidence to opposition parties. A combined platform leveraging Congress’s organisational network, Akhil Gogoi’s grassroots mobilisation during the anti-CAA protests and Lurinjyoti Gogoi’s regional appeal among indigenous communities could make several constituencies more competitive. In recent months, discussions on seat sharing and alliance structure have continued. By early February 2026, leaders from the three parties reportedly reached a broad understanding to contest together in order to avoid splitting opposition votes—a factor that contributed to the BJP’s comfortable victory in the 2021 Assembly elections. Akhil Gogoi, the Sivasagar MLA known for large public rallies, is said to have reduced his initial demand from 20 seats to around 15 and submitted a list of preferred constituencies. Lurinjyoti Gogoi has indicated that further meetings are required before a final announcement. Gaurav Gogoi has described his discussions with potential partners as “positive.”
However, the alliance remains unfinalised due to disagreements over the precise seat-sharing formula. According to Congress sources, the party has proposed that both Raijor Dal and AJP contest around 11 seats each—eight of their choice and three allocated by the Congress—while reserving a few constituencies for smaller parties such as the All Party Hill Leaders Conference (APHLC) and Left groups. Differences have also surfaced over seats with significant minority populations, where parties believe they hold stronger prospects. Leaders of smaller parties have expressed concern that delays in formalising the alliance are affecting grassroots preparations.
Organisational changes within the Congress have added another dimension. The All India Congress Committee recently shifted alliance coordination from Gaurav Gogoi to former state Congress president Bhupen Borah. While party leaders describe the move as routine restructuring, observers believe it is aimed at accelerating negotiations. Gaurav Gogoi has maintained that alliance-building is a collective responsibility.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has criticised the proposed front, asserting that the three Gogoi leaders will not pose a serious challenge and predicting limited electoral gains for the opposition. The BJP’s strong showing in the 2025 panchayat elections, where it secured a large majority of local body seats, has reinforced the ruling party’s confidence. Welfare schemes, infrastructure expansion and cultural initiatives undertaken by the state government have further consolidated its rural support base.
