Guwahati: Tensions between opposition allies Congress and Raijor Dal have deepened, with relations souring after Raijor Dal president Akhil Gogoi on Tuesday said the opposition suffered a major setback by contesting under Congress’s leadership. He also alleged that Congress MLAs spent the last five years in the Assembly in tacit understanding with BJP and remained inactive on key issues.Addressing the media during a Raijor Dal review meeting here, Akhil said, “Congress failed to defeat BJP. We lost badly in this election because we participated under the leadership of Congress.”“Mere lip service is not enough. We saw real opposition to BJP in the Assembly sessions. In the last five years, my experience says Congress and CPM were doing understanding with BJP,” he said, in a pointed message to Assam PCC president Gaurav Gogoi.Akhil claimed that the number of Congress MLAs fell from 29 to 19 because they failed to raise their voice effectively. He also blamed Congress for the delay in finalising the six-party opposition alliance.Although the election was projected as a direct contest between the three Gogois — Gaurav Gogoi, Akhil Gogoi, and Lurinjyoti Gogoi — and Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Akhil said that apart from one campaign meeting in Khowang, the three leaders were unable to campaign together.Responding to Akhil Gogoi’s remarks, Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi on Monday said that Akhil regularly criticises the party because he enjoys doing so, adding that “the public knows whether he stands with the ruling side or the opposition”.
