Assam polls: Congress, Raijor Dal seal seat-sharing deal

After weeks of disagreements, the Congress and the regional Raijor Dal signed the seat-sharing agreement on Thursday night (March 19, 2026).

There are currently six political parties in the Congress-led opposition bloc. The others are Assam Jatiya Parishad, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) and All Parties Hill Leaders Conference.

After signing the agreement with State Congress chief Gaurav Gogoi, Sivasagar MLA and Raijor Dal president Akhil Gogoi said, “We have come together under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to fight rampant disorder and corruption in Assam.”

He added that his party has decided to work to make Gaurav Gogoi the chief minister of Assam.

“I apologize to those who were not given tickets, but we must fight together for the betterment of Assam and to save the State from the divisive politics of the BJP. Civil society and impartial citizens should also come forward,” the State Congress chief said.

As per the seat-sharing arrangement, Raijor Dal will contest 13 seats, including the president. The two parties will have a “friendly race” in two of these constituencies.

The Congress has announced the names of 87 candidates so far but there are actually 86 candidates. Prateek Bordoloi withdrew his candidacy from the Margherita seat after his father, Nagaon MP Pradyut Bordoloi, left the Congress and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Four other components of the opposition bloc are competing for 15 seats.

There is no clarity regarding the remaining seats. Elections to Assam’s 126 Assembly seats will be held in a single phase on April 9.