3 days ago
Civil society groups call for united oppn ahead of '26 polls
Guwahati: Following the recent appointment of Gaurav Gogoi as Assam PCC president, civil society groups have started pressuring the Congress and other anti-BJP parties to forge opposition alliances for the 2026 election.
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Distinguished intellectuals and prominent personalities from Assam, including Hiren Gohain, Harekrishna Deka, Abdul Mannan, Paresh Malakar, and Santanu Barthakur, have called for opposition parties to unite while time remains. Although Gaurav Gogoi emphasised strengthening Congress first, these intellectuals stressed at a Wednesday press conference that creating a unified opposition is paramount before 2026.
"Assam will be in danger if opposition unity does not become a reality before the 2026 assembly election," Gohain said. During the press briefing, Gohain highlighted Assam's "unstable situation" and "governmental overreach". He discussed the financial difficulties, rising prices, employment issues, uncertainty, and new taxation burdening citizens. He noted that while protests face restrictions, public resistance continues against "authoritarian governance".
Gohain warned that without removing BJP from power, public hardship would intensify. He emphasised that BJP and RSS currently dominate state administration, necessitating civil society's involvement in the 2026 Assembly elections, with opposition unity being crucial.
"In such a scenario, what role will civil society play in the 2026 Assembly elections? The first condition is a strong and united opposition against the BJP.
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Opposition political parties need to realise this," Gohain said.
A six-member civil society group has been working towards this objective for months, despite challenges. Gohain stressed the importance of uniting civil societies on a single platform supporting democracy, constitutional values, and Assam's interests. He announced plans for a state-level 'Unified Citizen's Convention' in Guwahati on July 5 and 6, aiming to unite social institutions and civil societies.
The convention will present a white paper on BJP's decade-long governance and propose alternative solutions through a charter of demands.
The convention intends to establish guidelines for civil society's role in the 2026 elections and create an action plan for public campaigning. A preliminary convention for greater Guwahati is scheduled for June 13. RS MP Ajit Kumar Bhuyan confirmed that while political parties are excluded from the June 13 convention, discussions continue regarding their participation in the July 6 open session. "The convention will discuss how civil society and organisations can play a role in the polls and on what programmatic basis.
The main goal and purpose of the Unified Citizen's Convention will be to prepare a blueprint for how we can play a significant role in a united and coordinated manner by preparing a joint charter of demands and a programme," Gohain added.
