Raijor Dal Announces First Candidate List Amid Opposition Alliance Negotiations
In a significant political development, the Raijor Dal (RD), a key regional party in Assam, has officially declared its first list of eleven candidates for the upcoming elections. This announcement comes just one day after the Congress party released its own initial list of forty-two candidates, highlighting the ongoing and complex negotiations within the proposed opposition alliance.
Strategic Moves and Candidate Selections
The release of the RD candidate list did not spark a major confrontation with the Congress, as there was only one overlapping constituency: Margherita. In that seat, RD has fielded youth leader Rahul Chetry, a former student union leader from Dibrugarh University. He will be contesting against Congress nominee Prateek Bordoloi, who is the son of Lok Sabha MP Pradyut Bordoloi, a multiple-time representative of the Margherita seat in upper Assam.
Notably, RD president Akhil Gogoi's name was not included in this first list, but he is confirmed to contest from the Sivasagar constituency, which he currently represents in the state assembly. In a strategic move, Congress did not announce any candidate from Sivasagar, with party insiders indicating this was a clear signal of their desire to include RD in their broader opposition alliance.
Disappointment and Ongoing Negotiations
Akhil Gogoi expressed his disappointment over Congress declaring its candidate list while seat-sharing discussions were still actively underway between the two parties. He emphasized that negotiations for a cohesive opposition front, which includes Congress, the Left parties, and other regional groups like AJP and APHLC, were nearly finalized. However, talks between RD and Congress have remained inconclusive regarding a few specific seats.
Earlier, in November of last year, Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi had announced plans for a united opposition alliance comprising AJP, RD, CPI, CPM, CPI(ML) - Liberation, Jatiya Dal-Asom (JDA), and the All Party Hill Leaders' Conference. This vision is now being tested as practical seat-sharing agreements are hammered out.
Key Candidates and Political Dynamics
The RD list includes candidates in several traditional Congress strongholds, demonstrating the party's ambition and strategic positioning. The candidates announced are:
- Abdur Rashid Mandal from East Goalpara, who recently left Congress to join RD.
- Azizur Rahman from Dalgaon.
- Mehboob Muktar from Dhing.
- Alak Nath from Tezpur.
- Dulal Chandra Baruah from Sissiborgaon.
- Gyanasree Bora from Marioni.
Additionally, former Congress leader Romen Chandra Borthakur, who also had affiliations with the Trinamool Congress (TMC), has been given an RD ticket from the Jalukbari seat. This constituency is currently represented by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in the state assembly, making it a high-stakes contest.
Seat-Sharing Proposals and Alliance Prospects
On Monday, RD working president Bhasco De Saikia revealed that RD had submitted a list of eighteen seats to Congress, requesting fifteen for direct contests. According to Saikia, Congress agreed to relinquish only four seats to RD and proposed a "friendly contest" in another four. He stated that if Congress were to concede one more preferred seat to RD, the alliance between the two parties could be finalized, potentially strengthening the opposition's collective challenge in the elections.
This unfolding scenario underscores the delicate balance of regional politics in Assam, where alliances are crucial for electoral success. The decisions made in the coming days will significantly impact the opposition's unity and effectiveness against the ruling party.
