The title might raise eyebrows, but if things align in Congress’s favour, the party could be on its way back to power in 2026. And if that happens, then it would act as a booster not just for the Jorhat MP Gaurav Gogoi and Congress in Assam, but for the party as a whole in the country.

The BJP or BJP affiliates must be laughing while reading the above statement. They would probably question the sanity of the person writing this piece without any homework, predicting a Congress comeback, given the party’s struggles.

Well, in politics supporters—especially those deeply loyal to a party (often called Bhakts these days)—tend to see only what they want. And Right now, BJP supporters are super confident of the saffron party's come back in 2026.

BJP’s 2026 Roadmap: A Cakewalk Or A Tough Fight?

BJP, with a mass support base, has no reason to believe that they will face defeat at the ensuing 2026 Assam Assembly polls.

With the power of delimitation and beneficiary schemes, the party without doubt seems to be in a strong position, with internal estimates predicting a win in around 80 (out of 126) Assembly seats.

BJP’s strengths are undeniable. A combination of robust leadership, the organisational prowess of the RSS, and a continuous influx of Congress defectors since 2016 have only strengthened its grip on Assam. This shifting voter base has helped BJP maintain its dominance.

With the able leadership of former Congressman-turned-saffron torchbearer, Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma, the Assam BJP unit is having a smooth run in governance.

Chief Minister Sarma’s media-savvy and media-commanding approach has often left Congress struggling for relevance.

Beginning his political career with the Congress and after being a part of the Tarun Gogoi-led Congress government for three consecutive terms, serving his expertise in key Cabinet roles, Chief Minister Sarma knows the pulse of the grand-old party and its members who are running the show at Rajiv Bhawan.

This gives Himanta Biswa Sarma strategic edge— rathe say to the BJP—for surging ahead.

With a round-the-clock political strategy, Assam BJP is exuding confidence about retaining power in 2026.

Can Congress Stage A Comeback?

"Opposition exists to keep democracy alive."

Despite BJP’s ambition for a Congress-Mukt Bharat, the grand old party is still standing—though struggling—to remain relevant.

The Gaurav Gogoi Factor

Since the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, or, say by contesting and then going on to win the the Jorhat Lok Sabha seat, Gaurav Gogoi has turned out to be a force to be reckoned with in the anti-BJP camp in Assam.

The son of former three-time Chief Minister late Tarun Gogoi, Gaurav Gogoi has an upper hand in many political affairs in the state.

Due to his strong academic background, simplicity, and a clean image, Gaurav Gogoi is already getting recognised as "face of the opposition", not just in Assam but at the Centre as well.

His growing popularity has not gone unnoticed. In fact, BJP seems rattled—enough to have targeted him with 'anti-India' allegations, dragging him into media controversies and legal distractions.

Clearly, Gaurav Gogoi's rise is causing discomfort in BJP circles.

The Road Ahead

Congress, with immediate effect, must make Gaurav Gogoi the chief of Assam operations for the 2026 Assembly election by giving him all powers to run the party affairs.

With a proper strategy under Gaurav Gogoi, Congress will be able to convince the people of Assam to believe in him as an alternative to BJP, hence giving a ray of hope.

Congress must introduce new faces, and dropping certain old horses is going to send a positive message to the public.

The 2026 'Assam Battle' is not going to be easy, but if Congress is serious about reclaiming Assam, Gaurav Gogoi is its best bet.

The question is—will the party act in time?

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