In New Delhi, the Congress vows to adopt a stance of both constructive engagement and assertive opposition, aiming to counteract any endeavors by the NDA government to undermine the sanctity of Parliament, as stated by Lok Sabha MP Gaurav Gogoi on Tuesday.

Gogoi, who secured victory in the elections from the Jorhat parliamentary constituency in Assam, previously represented the Kaliabor seat in the Lok Sabha, where he held the position of deputy leader of the Congress.

In the current session, Gogoi, the offspring of the late former chief minister Tarun Gogoi, emerges as a potential contender for the position of Leader of the Opposition if the former party chief Rahul Gandhi opts out of the unanimous plea from the Congress Working Committee to assume the pivotal role.

Q Despite a robust campaign, the Congress failed to dislodge the BJP government. How does the Congress plan to navigate the new Lok Sabha?

The Congress is poised to assume a dual role, one of constructive engagement and vigorous opposition. Our strength has significantly bolstered with 99 seats. We stand prepared to safeguard the integrity of Parliament and the Constitution. Any endeavor by the ruling NDA to undermine the Parliament or Constitution will face staunch opposition. The NDA’s triumph is precarious, with a mere 32-seat margin against the INDIA bloc. In my estimation, the NDA should not perceive this as a resounding victory. All decisions within the INDIA bloc will be deliberated collectively.

Q Who is slated to become the new Leader of the Opposition?

The Congress Working Committee has passed a resolution advocating for Rahul Gandhi to assume that mantle. A final decision will be reached in due course. I await the party’s verdict regarding my future. However, I am inclined to concentrate on my home state of Assam, where I perceive an opportunity to revive the Congress’s prospects for the 2026 elections.

Q What leads you to this conclusion?

The electorate of Jorhat thwarted Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, despite his personal investment in the election. Additionally, voters in the Dhubri constituency rebuffed AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal, who aligned with the BJP’s agenda. These defeats underscore the readiness of Assam’s populace for a transformation in the 2026 Assembly polls. We must collaborate with our allies. True justice will only prevail upon the resurgence of the Congress in the state, and preparations for this endeavor must commence forthwith. The same holds true for other states bound for elections: Haryana, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, and the UT of Jammu and Kashmir.

Q To whom do you attribute the Congress’s resurgence in 2024?

Undoubtedly, Rahul Gandhi deserves credit, as evidenced by his two nationwide yatras, which underscored the Congress’s profound connection with the electorate. These yatras underscored that democracy lies at the heart of the party’s ethos. It is imperative to disseminate this message across every corner of the nation, including Uttar Pradesh and Assam. The Assam Chief Minister scapegoated a specific religious community in Nagaland for the state’s electoral outcome, while the BJP in UP attributed their defeat in Ayodhya to another religious group.

Q How does the party plan to address underperforming states?

The party will conduct a comprehensive assessment of the situation in these states and implement corrective measures. I can personally attest to the situation in Rajasthan, where I chaired the panel responsible for selecting Assembly candidates. Despite a narrow margin of defeat, our performance in the Lok Sabha elections surpassed that of 2019. A common thread between Assam and Rajasthan is the lackluster BJP campaign; the Prime Minister’s contentious statement in the Banswara constituency, which we triumphed in, epitomizes this.