Guwahati's Citizen Convention Ends With Resolves Of Opposition Unity In Assam

Opposition parties of Assam, along with civil society members and the general public, came together to renew the efforts of reviving the opposition unity ahead of the 2026 Assam Assembly elections. 

Held at the ITA, Machkhowa, the Assam United Citizens’ Convention concluded on Sunday (June 6), reflecting on the damage inflicted on India’s democratic fabric by the RSS-BJP combine over the past decade. While the INDIA bloc had briefly galvanised public sentiment during the parliamentary polls, subsequent political developments, especially in states like Haryana, Maharashtra, and Delhi, demonstrated the BJP’s ability to rebound.

In stark contrast, opposition unity across the country, and particularly in Assam, has weakened in recent months. The convention acknowledged growing public frustration over the absence of a cohesive, credible alternative to the BJP. In response, parties including the Congress, Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP), Raijor Dal, CPI, CPM, CPI(ML), and APHLC have engaged in a series of dialogues since January this year, with the shared objective of reigniting the enthusiasm seen during the initial days of opposition unity.

Organisers of the convention revealed that a small group of civil society interlocutors had held private discussions with central leaders of all these parties. These conversations offered insight into the parties’ aspirations, doubts, and hesitations. Upon review, three major obstacles to unity were identified: bitter past experiences with alliances, public criticism among opposition leaders, and competition for influence in each other’s strongholds. The speakers agreed that the failure to unite would only further embolden the ruling party and accelerate the erosion of democratic institutions in the state.

Paresh Malakar, the Secretary of Assam Nagarik Samaj, told Pratidin Time, “Rigorous preparations to organise the convention have been going on for the past four months. We have been visiting several places in Assam and having dialogues with various political parties across the state. After a series of deliberations, prior to yesterday’s convention, we organised another convention in Guwahati on June 13.”

Opposition Leaders Got Together

The event witnessed the participation of prominent intellectuals and political leaders, signalling the beginning of what could be a renewed attempt to forge a broader opposition alliance in the state. Renowned intellectual and scholar Dr. Hiren Gohain, veteran politician Hemen Das, political activist and intellectual of national fame, Yogendra Yadav, and Rajya Sabha MP Ajit Bhuyan were among the keynote attendees. They were joined by political heavyweights including Lurinjyoti Gogoi, President of Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP); Sivasagar MLA and Raijor Dal President Akhil Gogoi; Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) President Gaurav Gogoi; MP Rakibul Hussain, Leader of Opposition Debabrata Saikia; senior Congress leader Hafiz Rashid Ahmed Choudhury and senior Congress leader Bedabrata Bora, Mira Borthakur among others.

The convention called on all opposition forces, political parties, civil society organisations, and the people of Assam to set aside ideological differences and come together based on a minimum common programme. It emphasised that opposition unity must go beyond electoral arithmetic. To counter the BJP effectively, mass awareness campaigns and peaceful civil resistance, rooted in the spirit of India’s freedom struggle, must be launched across the state.

Addressing the gathering, Yogendra Yadav said, "The strength of people’s movements and civil society in Assam is unlike anything I’ve seen elsewhere in the country. This is an extraordinary state when it comes to grassroots mobilisation and civic engagement. While it is true that the Congress and other parties represent the formal opposition, the real opposition today is the people gathered in this very hall. We are certainly fulfilling our responsibilities as opposition parties, but at times, I’ve observed that the ideology of the ruling and opposition remains the same. For genuine opposition unity to emerge, two things are essential: a strong adhesive that binds us together, and consistent external pressure; without these, true unity will remain elusive."

Seat sharing, which remains the biggest stumbling block to formal alliances, was also addressed in the convention. The convention resolved that this issue could be resolved pragmatically by identifying constituencies where anti-BJP candidates have the strongest chances of winning.

Apart from the political parties, activists from various parts of Assam that are spearheading movements against land grab, eviction and fighting for a sustainable environment took part in the convention including Pakhiraj Rabha, a part of movement against the proposed Barduar Satellite township near Chandubi, Bikram Hanse, a part of land grab and eviction against the mega solar power project in Karbi Anglong. 

Jones Ingti Kathar, leader of APHLC and also a leader of the movement against the Karbi Anglong Solar Project,  represented his party in the convention

Focus On Unity For the Assembly Election in 2026

Speaking at the event, Gaurav Gogoi extended appreciation to the civil society for taking such an initiative and acknowledged the pivotal role it could play. "I thank the citizens' society. They have a very important role to play. There is a lot that civil society can do,” he said.

Addressing the question of electoral alliances, he remarked, “Discussions are necessary, and we are open to hearing everyone out. We are in talks with political leaders across the spectrum. But we must remember, had we forged a united front in 2021, we could have formed the government.”

Gogoi concluded by stating that while the Congress party is open to alliances, it must also strengthen itself internally: “One thing is certain, we won’t go into the next election alone, and Congress won’t fight it alone.”
Raijor Dal chief and Sivasagar MLA Akhil Gogoi was unequivocal in his pitch for opposition unity. He called on the Congress to formally initiate alliance talks with other like-minded parties.

Akhil Gogoi was unequivocal in his pitch for opposition unity. He called on the Congress to formally initiate alliance talks with other like-minded parties.

“Other discussions can wait, but the most urgent matter right now is opposition unity. Every opposition party expects the Congress to take the lead in this,” he said.

In a strong statement of commitment, he declared, “If the Congress leadership announces today that they’re ready for an alliance, we will consider that alliance sealed from this very moment.”

He also sent a political message to the ruling party: “We are waiting for the Congress whistle. Once we all hit the ground together, from Upper Assam to Lower Assam, the Chief Minister himself will be forced to step down.”

Lurinjyoti Gogoi also stressed similar sentiments and said, “Time is running out, and we must come together to fight the BJP. People across Assam are clearly demanding a united opposition to take on the upcoming elections. Today’s convention only reinforces that sentiment. It is now evident that unity is not just an option, it is our foremost challenge and responsibility.”

In conclusion, the Assam United Citizens’ Convention reaffirmed its commitment to building a broad-based opposition front rooted in collective action, public participation, and democratic values. As the countdown to the 2026 elections begins, Sunday's deliberations could mark a turning point in Assam’s political trajectory.

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