Guwahati: The recently announced results of the Assam Assembly elections dealt a major blow to the opposition parties. Several opposition parties had joined hands under the leadership of the Indian National Congress to challenge the NDA alliance, but many top leaders and party presidents suffered heavy defeats.
Among the biggest defeats was that of Assam Pradesh Congress Committee President Gaurav Gogoi, who was projected as the opposition’s chief ministerial face. He lost the Jorhat Assembly seat to BJP candidate Hitendra Nath Goswami by a margin of 23,182 votes. Goswami secured 69,439 votes, while Gogoi received 46,257 votes. Gogoi has already accepted moral responsibility for the defeat.
Lurinjyoti Gogoi, president of the Assam Jatiya Parishad, also faced defeat for the third consecutive major election after the 2021 Assembly and 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Contesting from Khowang constituency, he lost to BJP candidate Chakradhar Gogoi by 9,984 votes.
Another major defeat came in Diphu constituency, where All Party Hills Leaders Conference president John Ingti Kathar lost to BJP candidate Nihos Terangpi by 49,740 votes.
In Tamulpur, Pramod Boro, president of the United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL), was defeated by BJP leader Biswajit Daimary by 26,743 votes.
Former AAMSU president Rezaul Karim Sarkar, who recently joined the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), also lost from Srijangram constituency. Congress candidate Nurul Islam defeated him by 13,305 votes.
Senior Congress leader and former Assam Congress president Ripun Bora suffered defeat in Barchalla constituency. BJP candidate Ritubaran Sharma defeated him by 24,562 votes.
Several opposition parties including the Assam Jatiya Parishad, CPI(M), CPI(ML) and APHLC failed to win even a single seat in the election.
Many senior MLAs and ministers also faced defeat. Former Amguri MLA Pradip Hazarika lost in Sivasagar, while CPI(M) MLA Manoranjan Talukdar was defeated in Bhabanipur-Sarbhog constituency.
Former Leader of Opposition Debabrata Saikia also suffered a major defeat in Nazira constituency. Former minister Nandita Gorlosa, contesting as a Congress candidate from Haflong, finished in third position.
Other defeated leaders include MLA Abdur Rashid Mandal from Goalpara East, MLA Karim Uddin Barbhuiya from Sonai, AIUDF MLA Rafiqul Islam from Mandia, former MP Abdul Khaleque, Congress candidate Nandita Das from Hajo-Sualkuchi, and AIUDF leader Aminul Islam from Rupohihat.
The election results clearly showed a major setback for several opposition parties and top political leaders across Assam.
