GUWAHATI : Lok Sabha MP Gaurav Gogoi officially assumed charge as the new president of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) on Tuesday, setting the tone for the party’s preparations ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.

In a formal ceremony at the state Congress headquarters in Guwahati, Gogoi received the baton from outgoing APCC president Bhupen Kumar Borah, who had led the party for over three years.

The event was attended by senior Congress leaders, including AICC General Secretary Jitendra Singh and Leader of the Opposition in the Assam Assembly, Debabrata Saikia.

Before taking charge, Gogoi offered prayers at the Kamakhya Temple, seeking blessings for his new political journey as the head of the state’s principal opposition party.

Addressing the media after assuming office, Gogoi reaffirmed his commitment to the Congress’s core values of equality and inclusiveness. “Inspired by the ideology of leaders ranging from Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru to Hiteswar Saikia and my father, Tarun Gogoi, we will take the party forward together,” he said.

Gogoi’s appointment as state unit chief comes at a politically charged moment, as he has recently been under attack from Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma over allegations linked to his British wife’s supposed connections with Pakistan’s ISI — a charge Gogoi has firmly denied.

Prior to taking charge, Gogoi embarked on a symbolic three-day padayatra from Sivasagar to Guwahati, making stops at key locations such as Titabor, Jorhat, Nagaon, Morigaon, and Jagiroad. At each halt, party workers and supporters welcomed him with enthusiasm, underscoring his grassroots appeal and mobilization strength.

As the Congress begins its new chapter under Gogoi’s leadership, all eyes are now on how the party reorganizes and positions itself ahead of the 2026 state polls.

The felicitation ceremony for Assam Congress President Gaurav Gogoi was temporarily suspended on June 3 after organisers expressed concern that the wooden dais might collapse under the weight of the crowd. The situation led to chaos at the welcome event, prompting a brief halt in the programme to ensure the safety of attendees.

Gogoi took over as the new party chief from outgoing president Bhupen Kumar Borah at the party’s state headquarters Rajiv Bhawan earlier in the day.

He had sought blessings at the Kamakhya temple prior to it.  Along with the three newly appointed working presidents, Gogoi attended a programme at Manabendra Sarma Complex in Dispur area later in the day.

With around 2,000 party members present at the programme, chaotic scenes prevailed as people jostled to greet Gogoi as he walked towards the platform.

More chaos played out as party leaders, workers and various frontal organisation members came forward to felicitate the new leadership as well as other senior leaders on the platform. With around 300 people on the wooden platform, built for a limited capacity, organisers had to suspend the felicitation programme twice.

“We request the extra people to get off the stage otherwise it will cave it,” senior leaders urged over the announcement system multiple times. Gogoi himself and other leaders intervened to streamline the felicitation programme.

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