Jorhat, August 13: The ongoing controversy surrounding alleged electoral fraud, termed as “vote chori,” is poised to shape the Assam Congress' approach as it gears up to challenge the BJP-led government in the upcoming 2026 Assembly elections.

Gaurav Gogoi, the chief of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC), stated that the party is committed to ensuring fair elections in the state.

“To achieve this, we plan to train 28,800 booth agents who will be stationed at polling locations during the elections. With reports of fictitious voters inflating the electoral rolls, the Congress is taking the initiative to tackle and correct these issues,” he explained.

The Jorhat MP further noted that starting August 14, the party will initiate training camps across various districts, where Congress members will be educated on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) that the Assam administration is expected to implement soon.

“We aim to wrap up the training by the end of August, culminating in a ‘Vote Sur; Soki Erok’ meeting in Dibrugarh,” he added.

Gogoi also indicated that the state unit has received a directive from the All India Congress Committee regarding this initiative.

Outlining the party's comprehensive strategy for the forthcoming elections, he mentioned that Congress will not participate in the 2026 elections independently but will seek to collaborate with various societal groups before finalizing any alliances.

“We have previously stated that the Congress will not contest the 2026 elections alone. Our priority is to fortify our grassroots organizations. In the upcoming months, we will engage with different parties, organizations, and intellectuals to pave a progressive path for Assam’s development,” he remarked.

Gogoi's statements follow a recent meeting with a delegation from the Asom Jatiya Parishad (AJP) in Delhi, which has sparked renewed discussions about a possible united front among the Opposition.

Nevertheless, Gogoi stressed that the Congress' vision for Assam, its developmental agenda, and its commitment to maintaining the state's regional identity are unique.

“Our goal is to refine our approach in accordance with the aspirations of the people of Assam; this will be our initial step,” he concluded.