Leadership test awaits Gaurav Gogoi as BJP in Assam fire salvos alleging Pakistan link

Although Sarma launched the attack on Gaurav in February, it intensified following the terrortist attack at Pahalgam and during the campaigning for panchayat polls in Assam (May 2 and 7).

Guwahati: The Opposition Congress' biggest face from the east and the possible CM candidate for 2026 Assembly elections in Assam, Gaurav Gogoi, is under constant fire from ruling BJP under Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma making allegations of his links with Pakistan.

Although Sarma launched the attack on Gaurav in February, it intensified following the terrorist attack at Pahalgam and during the campaigning for panchayat polls in Assam (May 2 and 7).

Sarma and other BJP leaders are repeatedly claiming that the Congress MP from Jorhat in Assam had visited Pakistan several times and stayed for 15 days, his wife Elizabeth Colbourne, a Birtish citizen, had worked for a Pakistan-based NGO and that two children of the couple are not Indian citizens.

"Why did he go to Pakistan? Why his wife worked in India for a Pakistan-based NGO? Are the two children not Indian citizens? Let him give straight answers to the three straight questions," Chief Minister Sarma told reporters again on Sunday, during the campaigning for Panchayat polls.

The 42-year-old Gaurav, the son of former Assam CM Tarun Gogoi, however, has not directly answering to the questions as yet. "CM is talking about my children and I am talking about all children in Assam, how they are not getting good education and care under BJP's rule," Gaurav told reporters on Sunday. "People of India now wants the government to give a fitting reply to Pakistan for the way innocent people were killed at Pahalgam. They should answer how they came and regarding the lapses in our security. Instead, BJP is busy in asking questions about my family," Gaurav again said, while avoiding an answer to the questions. Gaurav is the three-time Lok sabha member from Jorhat in Assam.

Party workers confused:

Although some Congress leaders tried to shield Gaurav, party insiders in Assam said many workers are confused over Gaurav shying away from the answers. "We want him to clear the doubts in people's mind by answering the questions. We are faced with lots of questions from the party workers on the ground. They say that Gaurav not clearing the doubt would raise question marks over his leadership and his image as a leader," a youth Congress leader in Assam, told DH.

Leader of the Opposition in Assam Assembly and Congress MLA, Debabrata Saikia, while trying to defend Gogoi, said BJP was making personal attacks in order to divert attention from its failures. "CM Sarma is saying that he will disclose all details on September 10. BJP should also disclose the citizenship status of the children of foreign minister S. Jaishankar and national security advisor Ajit Doval, too," he said. Saikia is the son of former Assam CM Hiteshwar Saikia.

Leader for 2026

A Congress insider believe that some testing time awaits Gaurav as BJP and its allies in Assam are likely to intensify personal attacks in the run up to Assembly polls slated next year. "Gaurav is seen as an alternative in the 2026 polls. But he needs to recalibrate his strategies to counter such personal attacks," he said.

Saikia, however, said Sarma was making personal attacks fearing that Congress under Gaurav's leadership could unseat BJP in the polls next year.