Asom Sonmilito Morcha Returns to Counter BJP in Assam

GUWAHATI– In a bold move to counter the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s stronghold, the Congress-led opposition in Assam has forged a grand alliance with seven regional parties, reviving the Asom Sonmilito Morcha (ASM) to contest the 2026 Assembly elections under a unified banner.

The pact was sealed during a high-level meeting held today at the Congress Legislature Party office in Guwahati, chaired by Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president and Jorhat MP Gaurav Gogoi.

Attendees included All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary Jitendra Singh and leaders from the allied parties: Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP), Raijor Dal, Anchalik Gana Morcha, Communist Party of India (CPI), CPI(Marxist) [CPI(M)], CPI(Marxist-Leninist) [CPI(ML)], and the All Party Hill Leaders’ Conference (APHLC).

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The nearly two-hour deliberations marked a “turning point” in opposition coordination, focusing on seat-sharing, a common minimum programme, and a joint campaign strategy to address alleged governance failures and corruption under Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s administration.

“This is not merely a political pact but a collective people’s movement to restore democracy and accountability in Assam,” Singh declared, emphasizing the alliance’s commitment to preventing vote fragmentation that plagued past elections.

Gogoi echoed the sentiment, stating, “Today we have taken an important decision. In view of the BJP’s atrocities and the injustice of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, we have all united to provide relief to the people of Assam. We are coming together to contest the 2026 Assembly elections to liberate the citizens of Assam.”

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The revival of ASM, which had splintered in previous years due to internal differences, signals a pragmatic shift toward unity.

AJP president Lurinjyoti Gogoi, a prominent face in the alliance, affirmed, “The main point we decided today is to work tirelessly in this coming election and fulfil our duties towards the people of Assam. This unity is essential to safeguard Assam’s identity and future.”

Ajit Kumar Bhuyan, an independent MP aligned with the front, added, “We talked about many issues and decided to unite and fight for the citizens of Assam against Chief Minister Sarma’s government and the BJP, who are trying to break and sell Assam. We are coming together to overthrow this government.”

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Beyond electoral tactics, the coalition unveiled an ambitious outreach initiative dubbed ‘Raijor Padulit, Raijor Congress’ (Empowered People, Empowered Congress), aimed at engaging voters in tea estates, tribal villages, and rural areas.

Gogoi announced plans for statewide public consultations with economists, writers, and civic groups to craft a people-centric agenda. To bolster grassroots presence, the alliance intends to appoint Booth Level Agents in 90% of Assam’s 29,000 polling stations and introduce measures for “clean elections.”

Adding a cultural dimension, a event titled ‘Kanchanjungha – Sanskriti Houk Maitriyor Mantra’ (Kanchanjungha: A Mantra of Cultural Harmony) is slated for November 18 in Guwahati, alongside a Nahor tree plantation drive honoring the late singer Zubeen Garg.

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Leader of the Opposition Debabrata Saikia hailed the development as “the first solid step toward a common 2026 vision,” while CPI(M) MLA Manoranjan Talukdar quipped, “The Chief Minister’s discomfort shows we’re moving in the right direction.”

The front’s focus on issues like unemployment, development disparities, and alleged “syndicate rule” and “mami tax” – informal levies criticized by Gogoi in recent addresses – is expected to resonate with disillusioned voters.

This unity comes amid BJP’s internal consolidation and ahead of the March-April 2026 polls, where the incumbent holds 60 seats in the 126-member Assembly. Political analysts view the ASM’s resurgence as a potential game-changer, though challenges like equitable seat allocation remain. Further details on the common programme are anticipated in the coming weeks.