Seat-sharing talks between the Indian National Congress and Raijor Dal have ended without a breakthrough, dealing a blow to opposition unity ahead of the 2026 Assam Assembly elections.
Despite multiple rounds of negotiations, both sides failed to reach a consensus on the allocation of constituencies. The primary disagreement centred on the number of seats to be contested by Raijor Dal. Sources indicated that the party, led by Akhil Gogoi, had sought around 12 to 15 seats, while Congress was reportedly willing to offer only a limited number and proposed “friendly contests” in some constituencies.
Raijor Dal leaders expressed dissatisfaction over Congress’s reluctance to concede key seats, including Dhing, Ranganadi and Dalgaon, which they considered crucial to their electoral prospects. The party also accused Congress of delaying a final decision, even after discussions reached senior leadership.
Earlier, Assam Pradesh Congress Committee president Gaurav Gogoi had indicated that alliance talks were effectively on hold due to the absence of a mutually acceptable formula.
The collapse of negotiations is seen as a setback to broader opposition efforts to consolidate against the ruling alliance in the state. With no agreement in place, both parties are now expected to chart independent electoral strategies, raising the likelihood of multi-cornered contests in several constituencies.
Political observers believe the failure to forge an alliance could impact vote consolidation in key regions, potentially altering the dynamics of the upcoming assembly polls.
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