Assam Congress Forms 35-Member Pradesh Election Committee with Gaurav Gogoi as Chairman Ahead of 2026 Assembly Elections

The Indian National Congress has taken a significant step in its preparations for the Assam Assembly Elections 2026 by constituting the Assam Pradesh Election Committee (also referred to as the Pradesh Election Committee or State Election Committee of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee – APCC). This 35-member committee, chaired by Gaurav Gogoi, the current APCC President and Lok Sabha MP from Jorhat, was formed on Tuesday (February 3, 2026) with immediate effect. The move comes as the party gears up to challenge the ruling BJP-led government under Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in the upcoming polls, expected to be held in March–April 2026.

The decision was announced through an official letter signed by Congress MP and AICC General Secretary KC Venugopal. The letter stated: “The Congress President has approved the proposal for the constitution of the Pradesh Election Committee of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee, to be effective immediately, as follows.”

Gaurav Gogoi, who assumed the role of APCC President in May 2025 replacing Bhupen Kumar Borah, has been positioned at the helm of this crucial body. As a prominent leader and son of former Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, Gaurav Gogoi is widely seen as the party’s likely chief ministerial face for the Assam Assembly Elections 2026. Opposition voices, including Raijor Dal president Akhil Gogoi, have already projected him as a potential CM candidate in a possible united front against the BJP.

Key Role of the Pradesh Election Committee

The Pradesh Election Committee plays a pivotal role in the party’s electoral strategy. It is responsible for key decisions such as candidate selection, ticket distribution, alliance negotiations, seat-sharing arrangements, manifesto inputs, campaign planning, and overall coordination for the elections. With the Assam Legislative Assembly’s term ending in May 2026, this committee’s formation signals the Congress’s intensified efforts to reclaim power in the state after losses in the previous two assembly polls.

The committee includes a mix of senior leaders, Lok Sabha MPs, former ministers, and representatives from diverse communities, reflecting the party’s aim to build broad-based support across Assam’s complex demographic landscape, including tea garden workers, tribal groups, minorities, SC/ST communities, and OBCs.

Full List of Members in the Assam Pradesh Election Committee

Chairman:

Gaurav Gogoi (APCC President and Jorhat MP)

Members:

Debabrata Saikia (Leader of Opposition in Assam Assembly)
Rakibul Hussain (Lok Sabha MP)
Pradyut Bordoloi (Lok Sabha MP)
Bhupen Kumar Borah (former APCC President)
Ripun Borah (former minister and senior leader)
Paban Singh Ghatowar (former minister)
Wajid Ali Chaudhary
Rosilina Tirkey
Jakir Hussain Sikdar
Pradeep Sarkar
Arun Dutta Mazumdar
Pranati Phukan
Ranee Narah (also spelled Rance Narah)
Abdul Khaleque

Additional Members:

Durga Bhumij
Ajit Singh
Nandita Das
Sibamoni Bora (or Shivamoni Bora)
Pradyut Bhuiya (or Pradyut Bhuyan)
AK Rashid Alam
Jadav Swagiary
Prithvi Majhi
Tanka Bahadur Rai
Praneshwar Basumatary
RP Sharma
Ghana Buragohain
Augustine Enghee (or Augustine Anghi)
Meghnath Chetry
Balin Kuli
Hafiz Rashid Choudhary
Medi Alam Bora
Shobhman Ali Sarkar (or Subhman Ali Sarkar)
Gangajyoti Tayegam
Mausom Baruah

This comprehensive 35-member lineup ensures representation from various regions, communities, and experience levels within the party.

Special Invitees to Strengthen Grassroots Reach

To enhance inclusivity and ground-level mobilization, the committee features several special invitees. These include:

The General Secretary (Organisation) of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee
Heads of all frontal organisations of the APCC (such as youth, women, labour, and student wings)
Presidents of the SC, OBC, minority, and tribal departments
Heads of Congress divisions across the state
The president of the Tea Garden Cell

These invitees will play a vital role in addressing specific voter concerns, particularly in tea estates, tribal belts, and minority-dominated areas, where the Congress has traditionally drawn support.

Political Context and Congress Strategy for Assam Assembly Elections 2026

The formation of this committee arrives amid heightened political activity in Assam. The BJP, under Himanta Biswa Sarma, has consolidated power since 2016, emphasizing development, anti-corruption drives, and identity politics. However, the opposition—led by Congress—has been vocal about issues like unemployment, inflation, flood management, land rights, and alleged mismanagement in welfare schemes.

Gaurav Gogoi has repeatedly emphasized a “united front” against the BJP without compromising on core principles, ruling out alliances with parties like AIUDF in certain contexts while exploring partnerships with like-minded regional outfits. The Congress aims to contest around 100 of the 126 assembly seats, leaving room for allies in the rest.

This Pradesh Election Committee is expected to finalize strategies soon, including booth-level management, voter outreach, and countering the BJP’s narrative. With Gaurav Gogoi leading the charge, the party hopes to capitalize on anti-incumbency sentiments, youth aspirations, and regional discontent.

As Assam heads toward the Assam Assembly Elections 2026, this development marks a crucial organizational milestone for the Congress. The party’s performance will depend on effective implementation of the committee’s plans, ground mobilization, and ability to forge effective alliances.