Gaurav takes charge as Assam Cong chief ahead of assembly polls
2
Guwahati: Deputy leader of Congress in the Lok Sabha, Gaurav Gogoi, on Tuesday took charge as the president of Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC), as the grand old party is eyeing a resurgence to take on
BJP
and its allies in next year's assembly polls.
He blew the bugle with the slogan "eibar juj hobo," meaning there will be a battle this time.
After seeking blessings at the revered Batadrava Than in Nagaon on Monday, Gaurav headed towards Guwahati to assume charge as state PCC chief. On Tuesday morning, he offered prayers at Kamakhya Temple with some of the senior party leaders before embarking on his new political journey with new challenges. A three-time Lok Sabha MP, Gaurav is the son of former CM Tarun Gogoi and a loyalist of the Gandhi family.
"Congress is coming, and no one can resist. Eibar juj hobo (there will be a fight this time)," Gaurav told party workers at a meeting held at Manabendra Sarma Complex soon after he took charge of the post of Assam PCC chief Bhupen Kumar Borah.
Earlier, Gaurav was accorded a grand welcome at Rajiv Bhawan in the city, where he assumed charge in the presence of scores of leaders of different ranks and party workers. He said time is limited for the Congress workers, with barely 10 months left for next year's assembly polls.
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Borah advocated opposition unity all along despite facing opposition from certain quarters of the party. Borah expressed gratefulness to AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, and AICC general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal, particularly for their constant support to him while heading Assam Congress.
"If we don't put in efforts every day to campaign and strengthen our party, we cannot reach our goal in the 2026 assembly election," Gaurav said.
He stated that Congress wants to keep harmony, unity, and nationalist sentiments alive in Assam, and the Grand Old Party does not need a certificate from BJP.
The new president also said, "We cannot forget the Bharat Jodo Yatra started by Bhupen Borah from Dhubri to Sadiya. In Jorhat, we paid tribute to two great personalities — former chief ministers Hiteswar Saikia and Tarun Gogoi. These two individuals held the
Congress party
together during difficult times.
In the long journey of the Congress party, the seniors faced many challenges. We will have challenges among us. We must move forward despite these challenges."
Borah was confident that Gaurav is a strong voice of the people and has all the capabilities to fulfil the expectations of all sections of society. Borah was state PCC chief for the last four years when Congress continued its struggle to revive even by facing difficult times.
AICC general secretary in-charge of Assam Jitendra Singh, Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly Debabrata Saikia, and state Mahila Congress Chief Mira Barthakur were among the prominent Congress leaders present on the occasion. Gaurav was named as the new state PCC chief by AICC last week. The announcement of his name as the chief of Assam Congress came at a time when Gaurav was facing continuous attacks from CM Himanta Biswa Sarma regarding his wife's alleged connection with Pakistan's ISI and his (Gaurav's) visit to Pakistan.
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