The Congress expressed unease over the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha’s (JMM) decision to contest the upcoming Assam Assembly elections on its own, fielding 21 candidates after alliance talks between the two parties failed to reach a consensus.
Gogoi sought to blur the ideological lines between the BJP and the Congress, claiming the saffron party "no longer exists" in Assam.
The party is seeking to retain power in the state, with Sarma aiming for another term as Chief Minister.
The BJP has brought in recent Congress defectors and retained key leaders in its first Assam poll list, setting up contests in constituencies like Dispur, Bihpuria and Jorhat.
He spoke at Barpeta Doul Mahotsav amid Holi festivities.
The list was finalized by the party’s Central Election Committee and released by AICC General Secretary K C Venugopal
A major part of Shah’s upcoming visit, expected to focus on strategic international border areas, comes close on the heels of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to the state, in which he used infrastructure and national security to sharpen the political narrative for the saffron party.
West Bengal and Assam—the two eastern states—are going to Assembly polls in April-May, apart from Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Puducherry in the south.
BJP’s ally UPPL leader Pramod Boro, Congress leaders Ripun Bora, Gaurav Gogoi, AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal, Asom Jatiya Parishad president Lurinjyoti Gogoi also attended public meetings seeking supports for their candidates from the voters.
Accusing the Cong, Modi said, It is our responsibility to ensure the rehabilitation of those who have returned to the mainstream after years of struggle
