Guwahati, May 26: In a significant political development, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) on Monday, May 26, 2025, announced the appointment of Jorhat Member of Parliament and Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Gaurav Gogoi, as the new president of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC). The announcement marks a generational shift in the state Congress leadership, as Gogoi, 42, replaces Bhupen Kumar Borah, who held the post for nearly four years.
The appointment was formally declared by AICC General Secretary K.C. Venugopal, who also revealed the names of three new working presidents to assist in steering the party’s organizational affairs in Assam — Jakir Hussain Sikdar, Roselina Tirkey, and Pradip Sarkar. The reshuffle in the state leadership is being seen as a strategic move by the Congress to galvanize its grassroots machinery and inject fresh energy into its Assam unit ahead of the crucial 2026 Assembly elections.
The decision to elevate Mr. Gogoi, a three-term MP and the son of late Tarun Gogoi — a stalwart of Assam politics and former Chief Minister — is widely interpreted as the Congress’s direct challenge to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its influential state leader, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. The political rivalry between Gogoi and Sarma has intensified in recent months, particularly after the Chief Minister accused Mr. Gogoi of alleged links to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), an allegation Gogoi has categorically denied.
“The Chief Minister keeps making baseless accusations to divert attention from real issues. If he is serious, he should form two Special Investigation Teams (SITs) in September — one to investigate his claims, and another to investigate why such misleading statements are being made in the first place,” Gogoi said, demanding concrete proof to support the grave charges.
The political backdrop has been further charged following the Pahalgam terror incident and the subsequent Operation Sindoor, which Mr. Sarma has attempted to link to his claims. He has promised to produce evidence once the SIT submits its report by September 10. However, critics within the opposition see this as an attempt to malign Gogoi’s image and undermine the Congress’s growing influence in the state.
Adding to the momentum of Gogoi’s rise, former Congress MP and now TMC leader Ripun Bora came out in his support, stating that the Chief Minister’s aggressive targeting of Gogoi is driven by political insecurity. “Himanta Biswa Sarma is deeply concerned that if Gaurav Gogoi is projected as a Chief Ministerial candidate, the BJP may face a tough defeat in the 2026 Assembly elections,” Bora remarked. He also recalled the Chief Minister’s unsuccessful efforts to unseat Gogoi in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from Jorhat, despite reportedly deploying significant financial resources, administrative influence, and political muscle.
Gaurav Gogoi’s ascent to the state Congress presidency also revives the legacy of his father, Tarun Gogoi, who served as the state unit president nearly three decades ago and went on to become one of Assam’s most popular and longest-serving Chief Ministers. With his appointment, the Congress hopes to reinvigorate its cadre, reestablish its relevance in Assam’s political landscape, and counter the BJP’s dominance in the region with a renewed and youthful leadership.
As the state gears up for the 2026 Assembly polls, all eyes will now be on how Gaurav Gogoi steers the party, counters the BJP’s narratives, and unites the opposition forces in a bid to reclaim political ground in Assam.