How Congress is set to steal Defeat from jaws of victory in Assam

The Congress had the advantage of being a party in waiting to bounce back to power. The anti incumbency of 10 years was strong against BJP.

 Moreover, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had certain drawbacks. But the saffron party slogged hard. Himanta played his cards well.

On the other hand the Congress though started with general goodwill and almost a wave in its support in Upper Assam, it lacked the killer instinct.

Vital point and symbolism : Silchar, Bengali dominated region

Now on the eve of elections; as per the perception battle goes --- table has been turned in more ways than one. The resignation of a local stalwart Bhupen Borah is only an evidence of how things have been mismanaged by the grand old party.

"It's a case of stealing defeat from the jaws of victory. Only Congress party is capable of doing so," says Guwahati-based social worker Ratnadeep Vatsya. 

He explains : "The BJP's style of campaigning may smack of arrogance to some ... but they have built up a strong narrative. There is an element of inevitability, as if the BJP is sure to return. And the electoral battle outcome is BJP's win and this is endorsed by national leadership of PM Narendra Modi and Amit Shah". 

"The Congress may have sympathies in some quarters like Upper Assam and Muslim dominated hubs," says trader Salim Chowdhury in Silchar but added that Congress high command has neglected the campaign works.

 The visits by Modi and Shah dominate headlines, flood social media, energise saffron cadres.

In the process, says Salim the Congress workers are left with less enthusiaism and much lesser oxygen.

"In Silchar and Udarbond assembly segments; there is anti incumbency. The BJP may be forced to replace sitting MLAs but the Congress is not showing any effort to tap that. This is why there are 16 ticket aspirants for BJP but Congress office gives deserted look," said banker Poritosh Sen. 

In contrast; the BJP's campaign is well orchestrated. 

In December 2025,  Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused the Congress of ignoring Assam and the northeast for decades when the party was in power in states and in Centre.

"The developments of the past 11 years are an indicator that justice is being finally delivered to the people of Assam...Earlier during Congress rule people used to get government jobs only through recommendations or by paying bribes. But now the BJP government in the state is providing thousands of jobs based purely on merit,” Modi had said.

BJP IT cell member Babla Singh says - "We are working round the clock. In BJP, shram daan is a Mantra. Our campaign strategies is with big announcements and also assessing people's issues. In Silchar, people need fly overs and efficient traffic system; the message has reached BJP leadership". 

Educationist Indrani Gupto in Guwahati says: "In 2025 when the Congress had chance to strengthen its grip, it appeared rudderless. But BJP is ensuring that governance and campaigning move step by step. They have a festive mood, distributing bikes and cash and there is symbolism and the right rhetoric".

The Congress appeared over confident too and hence the initiative was lost apparently. 

Rahul Gandhi has not yet visited and Priyanka Vadra appears only a late entry. 

The Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister was the Congress in-charge for Assam and he went for , World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

 Such episodes when Assam is in the thick of an election battle, the optics are never praiseworthy.

If the leadership is not here, why should voters believe the party particularly when the sitting PM and Home Minister are star campaigners for BJP. 

Educationist Indrani Gupto says Development projects like the Kaziranga corridor are packaged not merely as infrastructure initiatives but as symbols of what the BJP claims only it can deliver --  seriousness matters.

Then comes the scale and speed of developments.

The Congress leadership had given free hand to pradesh chief Gaurav Gogoi -- but he too nominated Dhubri MP Raqibul Hussain to meet ticket aspirants.

This has backfired for the time being. 

Bhupen Borah, an Ahom leader like Gaurav Gogoi has quit Congress, and has spread the message that the Assam Congress has turned pro-Muslim under the influence of Raqibul Hussain

 This carefully-curated spectacle will harm Congress more because Hindu Assamese and Bengali voters have their grudge against pro-Muslim tilt of Congress. 

This political phenomenon and more so in perception matter is striking and politically devastating. 

Ends