The Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP), led by President Lurinjyoti Gogoi, met with Lok Sabha Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi on Tuesday to press for urgent discussions on critical issues affecting the state of Assam. The delegation, which included General Secretary Jagadish Bhuyan, Vice President Kamal Nayan Choudhury, and Joint Secretaries Jiaur Rahman, Chittaranjan Basumatary, and Raju Phukan, submitted a memorandum addressing the non-implementation of the Assam Accord (1985), the National Register of Citizens (NRC), and the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). The AJP urged Rahul Gandhi to raise these issues, particularly the problem of foreign nationals in Assam, in Parliament.
The meeting was attended by Assam Pradesh Congress Committee President and MP Gaurav Gogoi, MP Pradyut Bordoloi, and MP Rakibul Hussain, signaling a significant engagement between the regional party and Congress leadership. The discussions focused on Assam’s ongoing political and social crises, with the AJP emphasizing the need to safeguard the Assamese community’s identity and rights. 
Preparatory Meeting with Gaurav Gogoi
On Monday, August 11, 2025, a six-member AJP delegation met Congress MP and Deputy Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Gaurav Gogoi at the Constitution Club in New Delhi. This meeting served as a precursor to the discussions with Rahul Gandhi, focusing on Assam’s pressing issues and laying the groundwork for the high-profile engagement the following day.
Alliance Speculations and Denials by Assam Jatiya Parishad
The back-to-back meetings have fueled speculation about a potential alliance between the AJP and Congress ahead of the 2026 Assam Assembly elections. However, Lurinjyoti Gogoi firmly denied any such discussions, stating, “Assam is currently in crisis, and our meeting with Gaurav Gogoi was to seek support for resolving this crisis. No alliance talks took place.” The AJP leadership reiterated that their primary goal is to protect the Assamese community, and any future alliance would require broader consultation with multiple parties.
Opposition Reactions and Political Shifts
The meetings have stirred reactions among Assam’s opposition parties, particularly after the recent breakup of the opposition unity forum during the Behali by-election, where Congress’s decision to field a candidate independently led to the formation of the ‘Assam Sanmilita Morcha’ with MP Ajit Kumar Bhuyan as President and Lurinjyoti Gogoi as General Secretary. Raijor Dal President Akhil Gogoi expressed disappointment, stating, “There was a need for opposition unity to address the people’s issues, and a united front should have been formed.”
The AJP’s meetings with Rahul Gandhi and Gaurav Gogoi have created a new political dynamic in Assam. While the AJP insists its focus remains on resolving the state’s crises—particularly around the Assam Accord, NRC, and CAA—the speculation of a Congress-AJP alliance has introduced uncertainty into the opposition landscape. Whether these meetings will lead to a formal alliance between Congress and AJP or remain focused on issue-based advocacy remains to be seen.
