By Gogoi, beginning 2001, Assam left behind decades of turmoil caused by militancy and went ahead on a path of peace and development.
“At this stage, it’s a huge loss for the Congress in Assam. We have lost a guardian,” party spokesperson Rhituporna Konwar, who was close to Gogoi, told
For the 2021 state elections, the Congress has allied with AIUDF, which enjoys support among Assamese Muslims of Bengali descent. Gogoi played an instrumental role in giving a shape to the alliance, which had been talked about for long but never announced officially. Rahul, talking to reporters in Guwahati, emphasised that Gogoi could effectively bring together people of Assam, cutting across communities and ideologies, in an “exemplary way”.
While the alliance is speculated to become a game-changer in several minority-dominated areas, Gogoi had faced a barrage of insults from BJP over the decision. In August, Sarma had said, “At his age, instead of seeking Ram and Krishna, Tarun Gogoi is searching for Ajmal.”
Sarma, who had served as a senior minister in Gogoi’s cabinet when in the Congress, personally oversaw his treatment at GMCH and arrangements for cremation.
Party leaders told The Indian Express that after Gogoi, it is time for the state leadership to overcome factionalism and put up a joint front against the BJP.
Debabrata Saikia, leader of opposition in the Assembly, has said in his condolence statement that Gogoi was the “veritable Bhishma Pitamaha for Congress workers of Assam”.
On a Gogoi-less Congress facing the next elections against the BJP-led NDA, which swept the Northeast in 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Saikia told The Indian Express: “He had led us for over 50 years. Of course, he knew better, and there will be difficulties without him, but as I have said earlier, the Congress is guided by its ideology. The party did not shut down even after the deaths of Mahatma Gandhi or Jawaharlal Nehru or Indira Gandhi. So we will continue in Assam, too.
“We will not deviate from our party policy, which is our guiding force.”
“Tarun Gogoi’s absence will be felt; his demise has left a void. But we have to continue unitedly,” Nagaon MP Pradyut Bordoloi said.
