Assam MLA and Raijor Dal chief Akhil Gogoi on Monday ruled out the merger of his party with the Trinamul Congress but said he was ready to work with Mamata Banerjee to strengthen federalism and oust the ruling BJP in the 2024 general election.
Akhil said the decision not to merge with Trinamul was taken at the Raijor Dal’s executive meeting held here on Sunday because it was a “difficult proposition” as his party represented the hopes and aspirations of the people of Assam.
“We discussed threadbare Trinamul’s proposal that I lead its Assam unit and merge our party Raijor Dal. We have decided to submit a proposal to the Trinamul that we will not merge but want to remain as a regional force. We want to join hands with other such forces, including Trinamul, to strengthen federalism because the BJP is trying to destroy our federal structure,” Akhil said.
Gogoi, the lone Raijor Dal MLA, said he has met Trinamul chief and Bengal chief minister Mamata thrice in Calcutta, the last time on Saturday in presence of political strategist Prashant Kishor. Raijor Dal general secretary Hussain Mahammad Shahjahan was also present during the three meetings.
Reaching out to Akhil is part of Trinamul’s efforts to extend its footprints beyond Bengal where it won a third consecutive term in May. The party has already intensified its activities in BJP-ruled Tripura in its bid to form the next government there in 2023.
Assam, which also has a BJP-led coalition government, is another state where Trinamul fancies its chances because of a significant Bengali-speaking population and Mamata’s rising political stock after Trinamul’s resounding win in the Bengal Assembly polls despite heavy odds.
The Telegraph had earlier reported that the “fiercely independent and fearless” Akhil will not agree to the merger offer but will work with regional forces.
Praising Mamata, Akhil said she has been a strong supporter of federalism. “She always speaks for strong federalism... I admire her for that and am ready to work under her leadership to strengthen federalism in India,” he said.
He also said that Raijor Dal would support Mamata if she is projected as the prime ministerial candidate by the regional parties in 2024.
He said Raijor Dal would also “want to be part” of a government formed by regional parties so that it could “raise and resolve” the burning issues of Assam and the Northeast that include restoration of the special category status, constitutional safeguard for Assam and the National Register of Citizens.
Akhil also said that he was ready to ally with the Congress-led grand alliance in Assam for the bypolls provided it severed its ties with the AIUDF led by Badruddin Ajmal.
“If we have to oust the BJP, the Congress-led mahajot has to end its ties with the AIUDF. As long as communal AIUDF is active, BJP will remain in power. Both the BJP and AIUDF are communal,” Akhil.
The BJP-led mitrajot won a second straight term in May despite the mahajot putting up a spirited challenge.
Akhil, who spent more than a year in jail because of his alleged role in the anti-CAA protest in Assam in 2019, has become one of the active Opposition faces against the ruling BJP in the Assam Assembly.
Two PCC working presidents Rana Goswami and Jakir Hussain Sikdar had met Akhil on Sunday with a proposal to work together till the 2026 Assembly elections.
