Guwahati, March 21: Assam Pradesh Congress Committee president Gaurav Gogoi on Saturday launched a sharp attack on the ruling BJP, claiming that the party in the state is essentially “Congress led by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma with the saffron party’s tag.”

Campaigning in Majuli, Gogoi said the upcoming assembly election is not a contest between the BJP and Congress, but between “the Congress led by late Tarun Gogoi” and “the Congress led by Sarma.” Sarma had left the Congress in 2015 after differences with Tarun Gogoi and joined the BJP, bringing several leaders along with him. More recently, Lok Sabha MP Pradyut Bordoloi and former state Congress president Bhupen Borah also switched to the BJP.

“What stands before us is a Congress led by Sarma, merely carrying the BJP tag. The leaders who did wrong during Tarun Gogoi’s tenure are now in the BJP,” Gogoi alleged, adding that many of them were working for personal and family interests.

He contrasted this with what he described as a “new Congress” inspired by Tarun Gogoi’s ideals, emphasizing unity among opposition parties in Upper Assam. Gogoi expressed optimism that this alliance would pave the way for a Congress‑led government, with strong results expected in Upper and North Assam.

The Congress is contesting 94 seats, while allies Raijor Dal, Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP), CPI(M), All Party Hill Leaders Conference (APHLC), and CPI(ML) are fielding candidates in the remaining constituencies. Elections to the 126‑member Assam Assembly will be held on April 9, with counting scheduled for May 4.

Gogoi participated in a bike rally in Majuli to seek support for Congress candidate Dr. Indranil Pegu, urging party workers to respect alliance decisions and thanking allied leaders for their sacrifices in strengthening the opposition front.