The Assam Congress is embarking on a thorough self-examination following its substantial loss in the recent Assembly elections. State party chief Gaurav Gogoi, who himself lost the Jorhat seat, announced that a comprehensive review meeting would be held with MLAs-elect and poll candidates. "We will analyse the results in the State leadership on Saturday, and consequently, we will do it in the districts. We will also go to the public. We will learn the important lessons from this election," Gogoi stated, emphasizing the need for a structured review to understand the reasons behind the electoral setback.
Acceptance of Defeat and Doubts Over Electoral Process
Gogoi took moral responsibility for the party's performance, stating, "As the president of the APCC and the captain of the team, I take full responsibility for the defeat." However, he also voiced concerns about the fairness of the electoral process, echoing sentiments previously raised by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. Gogoi expressed difficulty in accepting the results, given the perceived support the party received during its campaign. "We came to know that the people could not believe the margins of defeat in many constituencies. Contrary to their and our expectations, we did not see neck-to-neck contests in those seats," he remarked, suggesting that the scale of victory margins was unexpected and potentially indicative of issues with the electoral process.
Party's Future Role and Focus
Despite the defeat, Gogoi asserted that the Congress's spirit remains undeterred. He stated that the party would continue to focus on protecting the integrity of the electoral process and would act as a "constructive Opposition party" to raise people's issues. "We may have won a low number of seats, but our spirit is not low," he affirmed. The party expects the new government to address pressing issues such as urban flooding. Gogoi also highlighted that the BJP leadership does not believe in a neutral electoral process and aims to weaken other parties by destabilizing it, which he described as a "dangerous path" for India.
The Congress's performance in the Assam Assembly elections saw it secure only 19 out of 126 seats, marking its worst performance in the state. The party's wins were largely concentrated in minority-inhabited constituencies, with 18 of its 19 MLAs being Muslim. This outcome contrasts sharply with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which secured 102 seats, with the BJP alone winning 82 seats.