Tensions Rise in Assam Opposition Alliance Amid Candidate Selection Disputes for Behali Bypoll

Cracks have emerged in Assam's 16-party opposition alliance over the candidate selection for the Behali seat bypoll. Congress state president Bhupen Kumar Borah resigned as the alliance head due to pressure after the Congress high command rejected Asom Sonmilito Morcha's (ASOM) nominee, Bibek Das of CPIML Liberation. The ASOM constituents had agreed that Congress would contest four of the five bypoll seats, leaving Behali for the bloc.

Internal Disputes and Resignations

Local Congress leaders in Biswanath district opposed the decision, advocating for their own candidates, Dilip Kumar Baruah and Premlal Ganju. Meanwhile, senior BJP leader Jayanta Bora resigned from his party after being denied a ticket in Behali. Sources suggest he might join Congress if promised a nomination. Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi reportedly supports giving Bora the Behali ticket.

The ASOM leadership set a deadline of 10 am on Wednesday for Congress to clarify its stance, as nominations close on Friday. "Please do not test our patience. We too have self-respect. We need to stay united till the 2026 assembly elections in order to defeat the BJP. We are waiting for a response, but you Congress cannot disrespect the united mandate of all opposition parties," said ASOM general secretary Lurinjyoti Gogoi.

Pressure on Borah and ASOM's Stance

Borah, also ASOM's president, resigned amid mounting pressure. In his resignation letter to ASOM's general secretary, he stated that the five-member committee's recommendation had not been accepted by the AICC. He expressed his inability to enforce decisions and felt compelled to resign as president of Assam's opposition unity.

Bypolls are scheduled in Dholai, Sidli, Bongaigaon, Behali, and Samaguri constituencies after their MLAs won Lok Sabha seats. In a letter to Borah on Tuesday night, Congress general secretary Jitendra Singh urged him to collaborate with ASOM members to field a strong candidate for the by-election.

Candidate Selection Challenges

Singh noted that Das of CPIML had contested Behali multiple times without success, often losing deposits. While most alliance partners agreed Das was a weak candidate, Singh questioned why ASOM's executive committee couldn't make a merit-based decision. Currently, Assam's Congress leadership has deferred the final decision on the seat to its central committee.

Sources indicate that Congress might announce its candidate by Thursday. The last date for filing nominations is October 25, with scrutiny on October 28 and withdrawal by October 30. Polling will occur on November 13, and votes will be counted on November 23.

The situation highlights internal conflicts within Assam's opposition alliance over candidate selection for upcoming bypolls. The outcome may impact their unity and strategy against BJP in future elections.