Guwahati, Mar 3: Yogendra Yadav, psephologist and founder of Swaraj Abhiyan, is making a last-ditch effort to facilitate an alliance between Raijor Dal and the Opposition Congress ahead of the upcoming Assam Assembly elections.
Raijor Dal, a regional party led by MLA Akhil Gogoi, is reportedly heading toward a possible breakdown in talks with the Congress over seat-sharing arrangements for the Assembly polls.
Raijor Dal working president Bhasco Di Saikia said Yadav met leaders of both parties to finalise seat-sharing arrangements in order to put up a united fight to unseat the BJP and its allies.
Saikia said the seat-sharing deal has yet to materialise due to the Congress’ reluctance to concede one additional seat from Raijor Dal’s list of preferred constituencies.
“We want a united fight against the BJP, and we have made significant sacrifices toward that goal. Initially, we sought 28 seats, but later reduced our demand to 15. However, Congress has offered us just four seats from our list of preferred constituencies,” he said.
He added, “They have proposed friendly contests in another four seats and offered five constituencies where we did not intend to field candidates. We have now only requested Congress to allot one more seat from our preferred list.”
Sources said seat-sharing between the two parties has become contentious as Congress is unwilling to allow Raijor Dal candidates to contest from certain key preferred constituencies.
“There have been differences between the two parties, but talks are ongoing to stitch the alliance together. Yogendra Yadav has come to bring both sides closer,” a source said.
Yadav, who was earlier associated with Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party, shares good relations with Akhil Gogoi, an RTI activist-turned-politician.
