Congress to sail alone in 2016 Assam Assembly polls

“There are challenges, especially with some parties engaging in a calculated vilification campaign against our party and government. Yes, it is going to be tough, but we will go to the elections alone and come out once again with flying colours,” Gogoi said. He was speaking at the induction ceremony of the new office-bearers of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC).

“We have neither talked to any other party regarding a possible alliance nor have considered forging any alliance in the forthcoming assembly elections,” Gogoi said.

Gogoi’s announcement of the Congress contesting without any party’s support in the 2016 assembly elections came in the backdrop of speculations that the ruling party might forge a tie-up with the AIUDF in order to keep the BJP at bay. The BJP had inflicted serious damage to the Congress in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections by winning seven of the state’s 14 seats. The Congress had to remain content with a record low of three seats.

In 2011 the Congress had tied up with the Bodo People’s Party (BPF), which had earlier provided very valuable support to the party when it was short of a majority in 2006. The BPF, which had remained an ally of the Congress since then and had berths in the Gogoi cabinet, pulled out of the alliance in July 2014.