Four regional political parties from Assam, which are opposed to the ruling BJP, have begun “preparing” for the future.

They have decided to stay united and maintain their alliance with the Congress until the 2026 Assembly polls while preserving their “regional identity”.

This was disclosed by Raijor Dal chief Akhil Gogoi after a get-together of the Raijor Dal, Assam Jatiya Parishad, Asom Jatiya Dal and All Party Hill Leaders Conference (APHLC) at a city hotel on Wednesday.

“We will be together till 2026 with the Assam Congress but at the same time the regional parties have decided today that we will launch a united platform of regional parties to strengthen them and continue beyond 2026,” Gogoi said.

“When the Congress will return to power after defeating the communal and fascist BJP, we want to ensure that Assam’s interests as well as regional interests are not ignored. Assam’s interests have to be protected,” Gogoi said.

AJP president Lurinjyoti Gogoi, too, said regional parties will move forward together. “It was a brainstorming session, nothing formal. We discussed what happened in the recently concluded Lok Sabha polls and what to do in the future, whether there should be one party or we will be under one umbrella. It will need some more discussion.”

Those familiar with the situation told The Telegraph that the get-together was arranged to “remove the perception” that Raijor Dal and AJP “have gone too close to the Congress” during the general elections where the three parties worked in close coordination under the United Opposition Forum, Assam.

“Both Rajor Dal and AJP chief have sent the message that they will be with the Congress to defeat the BJP but they will not compromise their regional character. That is the main message besides getting all regional forces under one roof,” one of them told The Telegraph.

There is a suspicion Raijor Dal and AJP will do what ruling BJP allies AGP and UPPL are doing: riding piggyback on the BJP, the person, belonging to a regional party, added.

“That perception has been dispelled today. Though national parties are heading the government in Assam since 2001, regional sentiments are still very high,” he said.

The get-together of regional parties came a day after the AJP, Raijor Dal, Jatiyo Dal and Congress met at a city resort to discuss about the Lok Sabha polls and the road ahead.