Assam News: The Congress has called on its potential alliance partners to adopt a “spirit of sacrifice” in seat-sharing discussions ahead of the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections. Speaking after a high-level meeting with senior party leadership on Saturday, Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi acknowledged that the party lacks the numerical strength to influence the elections on its own. He emphasised that the focus should be on cooperation rather than rigid demands, highlighting the importance of a united Opposition in the current political scenario.
Flexibility and Sacrifice Key to Successful Negotiations
Gogoi underlined that inflexible positions on seat allocation could undermine the broader goal of consolidating the Opposition. “I don’t believe that we should get into fixed positions about how many seats one party must have or how many another should get,” he said, stressing the need to assess the ground reality within the number of available seats. He further stated that Congress has already made significant sacrifices and is ready to continue in the same spirit, calling on all parties to show a similar commitment for the larger objective of strengthening the Opposition.
Rajya Sabha Arithmetic and AIUDF Clarification
Addressing questions about potential alliances, Gogoi clarified that Congress currently has no formal understanding with the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) regarding Assembly or Rajya Sabha elections. “We have clearly stated earlier that there is no understanding with the AIUDF. Everyone knows the number of MLAs Congress has. Given the present arithmetic, we have not discussed any arrangement related to the Rajya Sabha elections,” he said. The remarks also appeared to counter recent statements from regional leaders such as Akhil Gogoi and Lurinjyoti Gogoi, who have publicly expressed expectations regarding alliance arrangements.
Negotiations at a Crucial Juncture
Gaurav Gogoi described the discussions as being at a critical stage, noting that finalising a consensus requires responsibility and cooperation from all parties. “We are in the final stages of discussions. If everyone approaches the talks with a sense of responsibility and cooperation, a solution can be reached,” he said. The New Delhi meeting, attended by key Assam Congress leaders including Rakibul Hussain, focused on resolving differences and charting a united strategy. While no formal breakthrough was announced, the Congress leader’s emphasis on flexibility and sacrifice signals the party’s willingness to compromise, provided its partners show a similar commitment.
