Hiren Gohain Slams Akhil Gogoi Over "Self-Serving" Politics Amid Congress-Raijor Dal Rift

GUWAHATI, September 5, 2026 — Noted Assamese intellectual Dr. Hiren Gohain has issued a sharp critique of Raijor Dal leader Akhil Gogoi, days after Gogoi's public criticism of the Congress led to the collapse of the alliance between the two parties.

In a strongly worded statement, Dr. Gohain said that after much deliberation, he felt compelled to share his assessment of Gogoi's current political role. He acknowledged that Raijor Dal has many honest workers, and admitted that he himself had supported Gogoi on several issues in the past while also being critical of him at times. However, he said the time had come for an overall evaluation of Gogoi's conduct.

According to Dr. Gohain, Gogoi's primary objective is to elevate himself by any means possible, with no upper limit to this ambition. He alleged that for Gogoi, ideals, friendship, mutual understanding, and agreements are all dispensable when they come in the way of this goal — a tendency he compared to the dangerous political rise of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

Dr. Gohain pointed out that in the run-up to the recent elections, Gogoi had been extremely active in trying to reach a seat-sharing understanding with the Congress, but his real concern was securing a disproportionately large number of assembly seats compared to Raijor Dal's actual public support. He alleged that when the Congress, for valid reasons, did not concede to these demands, Gogoi created a public uproar and sought to tarnish the Congress's image, which ultimately only damaged the Congress rather than benefiting the alliance talks.

The veteran thinker further observed that despite being highly active, Gogoi shows little concern for the consequences of his actions, and is instead driven purely by his own will, ambition, and whims. He alleged that no understanding or commitment made with other parties, individuals, or institutions holds any real value for Gogoi, and that he eventually leaves collaborators confused and embittered before walking away as a "free bird," since accountability, in Dr. Gohain's words, runs contrary to Gogoi's nature.

Dr. Gohain also referred to Gogoi's shifting stance on Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma — at times praising him to the skies and at other times condemning him harshly — saying Gogoi now appears to have settled into open praise of the Chief Minister, and that only Gogoi himself knows what stance he might adopt next.

Concluding his remarks, Dr. Gohain said the public would draw its own conclusions about what to expect from Gogoi going forward, but added that there was no doubt the political "game" would continue.