Guwahati, June 3: Gaurav Gogoi, newly appointed president of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC), issued a clear and defiant message during his formal takeover at Rajiv Bhawan in Guwahati on Tuesday: “This time, there will be a fight.”
In his first address as APCC president, Gogoi emphasized the urgency of the political moment and called for collective action. “We will win the fight if we all unitedly work with responsibility,” he said, urging party workers at every level—from booth committees to Pradesh office bearers—to rally behind the Congress banner.
“This is not about me. Congress is not an individual or a portfolio,” Gogoi said. “I thank the high command for this heavy responsibility, but I can’t carry it alone. I need your support—from former MPs to grassroots workers.”
Gogoi pledged to reach out to regions where Congress currently has no MLAs or MPs, including Karbi Anglong, the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR), NC Hills, Tinsukia, Biswanath, and Sonitpur. “Workers in these places are striving to keep the party alive. We must strengthen these pockets, unite them, and fight back,” he said.
Drawing from recent electoral experience, he referenced the Bihali bypoll, where Congress narrowed the vote gap. “That happened because we worked together. But we’re short on time. We have only 10 months. If we don’t act now, we’ll fall short in 2026.”
He acknowledged past contributions from leaders like former APCC president Bhupen Kumar Borah and former chief ministers Hiteswar Saikia and Tarun Gogoi. “Their sacrifices are our foundation. We must uphold the party they built.”
Gogoi warned of upcoming political struggles and state pressure: “If this government can jail our spokesperson Ritumoni Singh on false charges, we must be ready to face jail too. They will pressurize our grassroots workers. But with the blessings of the people of Assam, we will overcome.”
Positioning Congress as the “largest and most powerful opposition party,” Gogoi appealed for public support and unity among opposition forces to defeat the BJP government in Dispur. “I ask all parties and organizations to support Congress openly. We will prioritize those who stood with us in hard times.
For those who left, the decision to return will rest with our grassroots workers. If they welcome them, we will too. If not, the door stays closed.” Setting a clear vision for the party’s mission, he said, “Criticism alone isn’t enough. Our goal is to rescue Assam—from fear, violence, hatred, and communalism. We want peace, unity, and integrity—not BJP’s certification.”
He ended by calling on every Congress member to shoulder the responsibility: “From booth presidents to Pradesh office bearers, everyone must rise. If any party has sacrificed for the nation, it is Congress. Now we must act like it.”
