Raijor Dal on February 21 took a firm stance on seat-sharing with the Congress ahead of the Assam Assembly elections, authorising party president Akhil Gogoi to decide on the alliance if the party’s demand for 15 Assembly seats is not met on its terms. The decision was made at an emergency executive meeting called to finalise the party’s position in alliance talks.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, Gogoi said party members had given him full authority “to negotiate with the Congress and secure 15 seats as deserved by the party workers.” He said the party cadre is dissatisfied with the seats offered so far and urged renewed talks with the state leadership, insisting that “seat-sharing must happen in a democratic manner.”
Gogoi criticised the Congress decision to contest 100 seats, saying such an approach is unacceptable if alliance partners do not receive a fair share. “If the desired 15 seats are not given as per Raijor Dal’s requirement, I have been authorised to rethink the alliance,” he said, adding that “the ball is now in the Congress court.”
While he acknowledged that the Congress has indicated a willingness to allot 15 seats, Gogoi said the dispute concerns which constituencies would be allocated. “As per our choice, we have been given only four seats so far. We want 15 seats of our choice. If not, at least 12,” he said.
Referring to Assam Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi’s comment that 26 seats have been left for six alliance partners, Akhil Gogoi questioned the fairness of that distribution. “We hear that 26 seats among six parties is not equitable. Congress always takes the majority of seats,” he said, citing past election figures: in 2016 Congress contested 122 seats and won 26, and in 2021 it contested 95 seats and won 29. “To form a government, one must win at least 60 seats. If the same formula is repeated, it will be difficult for the alliance to succeed,” he argued.
Gogoi also said he had written to Congress leaders Jitendra Singh and Gaurav Gogoi seeking clarity on seat-sharing but had not yet received a response, though he expressed hope for a positive outcome within the next few days. With negotiations entering a critical phase, Raijor Dal’s resolution increases pressure on the Congress to recalibrate its seat-sharing formula or risk a split in the opposition alliance.
Original Source: https://www.indiatodayne.in/assam/video/akhil-gogoi-puts-congress-on-notice-raijor-dal-demands-15-seats-of-choice-warns-alliance-at-risk-1349730-2026-02-21?utm_source=rssfeed
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Publish Date: 2026-02-21 21:55:00
