Guwahati, May 5: The opposition’s much-discussed “Three Gogois” narrative failed to translate into a uniform electoral outcome, with the three leaders delivering sharply contrasting results in the Assam Assembly elections 2026.
In the run-up to the polls, Gaurav Gogoi (Congress), Akhil Gogoi (Raijor Dal), and Lurinjyoti Gogoi (Assam Jatiya Parishad) were projected as the key faces of the opposition alliance—symbolising a blend of national and regional politics aimed at countering the ruling BJP-led NDA.
However, as results came in, that narrative unravelled.
The biggest upset came in Jorhat, where Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi—also seen as a potential chief ministerial face—was defeated by BJP’s Hitendra Nath Goswami. Goswami secured 69,439 votes, defeating Gogoi by a margin of 23,182 votes. Gogoi managed 46,257 votes in what was expected to be a closely watched contest.
Another setback for the opposition came in Khowang, where AJP president Lurinjyoti Gogoi lost despite a strong campaign. He polled 57,054 votes but fell short by 9,984 votes, underlining the limited traction of regional forces in key constituencies.
In contrast, Raijor Dal chief Akhil Gogoi stood out as the sole winner among the trio. Contesting from Sibsagar, he retained his seat with a convincing margin of 17,272 votes, securing 86,521 votes and defeating BJP candidate Kushal Dowari.
The mixed fortunes of the three leaders have emerged as one of the defining takeaways of the 2026 elections, highlighting the fragmented performance of the opposition across Assam and the limits of a personality-driven campaign narrative.
