Guwahati, Mar 9: Raijor Dal (RD), led by MLA Akhil Gogoi, has officially ended alliance talks with the Congress for the upcoming Assam assembly elections, citing broken trust and unmet demands.

The announcement concludes months of negotiations. In December 2025, Congress, CPI(M), Raijor Dal, Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP), CPI, CPI(ML) Liberation, Jatiya Dal-Asom (JDA), and Karbi Anglong’s All Party Hill Leaders Conference (APHLC) had agreed to form a united front against the BJP-led government.

In a statement, RD accused Congress and state chief Gaurav Gogoi of undermining the pact, particularly following a March 6 press conference where Congress, CPI(M), AJP, and APHLC unveiled a joint campaign excluding RD. “Congress broke the alliance on March 6. We tolerated their illogical demands for unity, but they wanted our unconditional surrender,” the statement said.

RD initially sought 27 seats, later reducing its demand to 15 under a Common Minimum Programme (CMP). Congress offered 13, including four of RD’s preferred seats, four for friendly contests, and five imposed, reducing RD’s leverage. Akhil Gogoi opposed the CMP and said Congress ignored RD’s follow-up letter after a February 19 meeting.

On March 3, Congress released its first list of 42 candidates, including Gaurav Gogoi from Jorhat. RD responded on March 4 with 11 candidates, including overlapping claims in Margherita.

Elections for Assam’s 126-seat Assembly are scheduled in April 2026, the first after the 2023 delimitation exercise. Currently, the BJP holds 64 seats with allies AGP (9), UPPL (7), and BPF (3). The opposition comprises Congress (26), AIUDF (15), CPI(M) (1), and one Independent.

Akhil Gogoi, when asked on March 6 about the stalled talks, stated, “Our doors are open.”