Congress Faces Criticism Over Delay in Appointing Assam Assembly Leader of Opposition
Congress's Leadership Dilemma in Assam Assembly
APCC Chief Gaurav Gogoi during a Congress meeting in Jorhat (Photo: AT)
Jorhat, May 23: In light of the ongoing impasse regarding the appointment of a Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Assam Assembly, Gaurav Gogoi, president of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC), stated that the party will adhere to a "proper procedure" for the selection.
Amid increasing scrutiny over the delay, Gogoi defended the party's stance on Saturday, emphasizing that the selection of the LoP will follow the Congress's established organizational protocols, overseen by the AICC leadership.
He remarked, "There is a systematic approach to this process. The AICC has decided to dispatch an observer from Delhi, and we are currently awaiting the travel schedule of this official," while addressing the media in Jorhat during a review meeting following Congress's recent electoral losses.
To mitigate concerns regarding the lack of a formally appointed LoP, Gogoi pointed out that Congress MLAs are already fulfilling their roles as the Opposition collectively.
He stated, "All elected MLAs have recognized their responsibilities. Together, they protested outside the Assembly after walking out during the Governor's address, voicing their concerns over inflation and the government's inability to manage rising prices."
In a contrasting view, Akhil Gogoi, chief of Raijor Dal and Sibsagar MLA, criticized Congress for the ongoing stalemate, labeling it "unfortunate" and indicative of deeper organizational flaws within the party.
He commented, "The government has been sworn in, MLAs have taken their oaths, the cabinet is formed, and two Assembly sessions have occurred. Yet, Congress has failed to elect an LoP. This is indeed an unfortunate situation," during a press conference.
Akhil Gogoi further asserted that if it were his party, the issue would have been resolved swiftly through discussions among legislators.
He accused Congress of being overly reliant on central leadership in Delhi and criticized Gaurav Gogoi's "bureaucratic" approach, which he believes has significantly contributed to the party's electoral defeat.
"We lost three months due to their indecision before the elections. Can a party like this defeat a professional entity like the BJP?" he questioned, adding that the lack of an LoP has diminished the Opposition's collective voice during Assembly debates on inflation and price hikes.
In a separate statement, Gaurav Gogoi mentioned that Congress has begun statewide review meetings to assess the reasons behind its electoral losses and to fortify the party's structure.
Senior leaders from the APCC have been tasked with visiting districts to engage with party workers, office bearers, and the public.
Gogoi concluded, "If we do not accurately diagnose the issues, our solutions will be flawed," emphasizing that inflation, rising fuel prices, and unresolved public concerns will remain central to Congress's agenda as the leading Opposition party in the state.