One Month as APCC Prez: Gaurav Gogoi Says People See Congress as Alternative to BJP

In a move aimed at reinvigorating its grassroots apparatus, the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) has unveiled a statewide outreach initiative set for Friday, June 27. As part of the campaign, senior Congress leaders — from the state to district level — will visit booth-level presidents and workers for a symbolic selfie drive. The photographs, which will be widely disseminated on social media, are intended to foster direct engagement and boost the morale of grassroots functionaries.

The outreach comes as MP Gaurav Gogoi completes one month as the APCC President. Speaking at a press briefing held at Rajiv Bhawan in Guwahati, Gogoi reflected on his whirlwind tour across Assam over the past 30 days and asserted that people are now increasingly looking to the Congress as a viable political alternative. “During my visits, the message was clear — people are disillusioned with the BJP’s governance. There is a growing demand for change,” he said.

Gogoi stated that the public response to Congress's initiatives has been overwhelmingly positive, which he believes has sparked discomfort within the ruling BJP, particularly among its top leadership. “There is palpable restlessness among BJP leaders, including the Chief Minister. Our efforts to build a mass movement against their anti-Assam actions are starting to bear fruit,” he said.

Highlighting a renewed internal strategy, Gogoi emphasized that the Congress has prioritized strengthening its booth-level organization in all 126 Assembly constituencies. “No candidate can win — or help others win — without a robust grassroots structure,” he said, adding that young faces will be given priority as candidates in the 2026 Assembly elections. “Fresh minds bring fresh perspectives. We are preparing a new generation of leaders.”

The APCC President also launched a scathing critique of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and members of his cabinet, accusing them of attacking the press to suppress stories of corruption and maladministration. “Journalists have started exposing the rot within the government, and now the media is under attack. We will defend the freedom of the press, which is the fourth pillar of democracy,” Gogoi affirmed.

On electoral reforms, Gogoi said the party is committed to ensuring clean and fair elections. “We are working to cleanse the voter rolls and eliminate irregularities that undermine the integrity of the electoral process,” he noted.

Senior leaders including MP Rakibul Hussain, Leader of the Opposition Debabrata Saikia, and APCC Working Presidents Jakir Hussain Sikdar and Roselina Tirkey were also present. They echoed Gogoi’s message of unity, accountability, and renewal, projecting Congress as a disciplined and battle-ready force ahead of the 2026 polls.

The selfie outreach campaign, while unconventional, symbolizes a larger effort by the Congress to reconnect with its grassroots base — particularly booth-level workers who often serve as the backbone of any electoral strategy. In a political landscape where hyper-local mobilization can often determine outcomes, the gesture is as tactical as it is symbolic.

With organizational restructuring underway, renewed public engagement, and assertive leadership at the helm, the APCC appears to be signaling a more aggressive posture in its challenge to the BJP’s dominance in Assam.

Also Read: BJP's 'Paribartan' Is Loot, Suppression: Gaurav Gogoi