Guwahati, March 4: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on March 3 alleged that Raijor Dal chief Akhil Gogoi has become a “victim of blackmail politics” by the Indian National Congress and would eventually be compelled to align with the party ahead of the Assembly elections.
Addressing the media, Sarma claimed that Akhil Gogoi’s political future depended entirely on retaining the Sivasagar Assembly seat. He asserted that the Raijor Dal leader would not risk a confrontation with Congress over seat-sharing arrangements as his prospects hinge on winning from Sivasagar.
“I think Akhil Gogoi will surrender to Congress because he has to win the Sivasagar seat. That is why I will not say he will fight with Congress over seat-sharing arrangements. He is bargaining, but his entire political future depends on Sivasagar,” the Chief Minister said.
Sarma further alleged that if the Congress fields a candidate in Sivasagar, Akhil Gogoi could find himself in a weakened position. He claimed that the Congress was exerting pressure on him, describing the situation as “blackmail politics”.
“Outside, you may see Akhil Gogoi as a big leader, but currently, he is a victim of blackmail. In the end, he will follow Congress’s direction because he does not have the strength to win the Sivasagar seat on his own,” Sarma remarked.
The Chief Minister also contended that while both Congress and Raijor Dal were exerting pressure on each other, an alliance between them was “99.9 per cent certain”. He said Akhil Gogoi would ultimately present any such tie-up as a move aimed at defeating the BJP.
Commenting on Lurinjyoti Gogoi of the Assam Jatiya Parishad, Sarma claimed that both Lurinjyoti and Akhil were inclined towards an alliance with Congress in a bid to secure electoral victory and retain their positions in the Assembly.
