Gandhi, serving as the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge are currently touring Assam. On Wednesday, they met senior state-level party officials in Guwahati to discuss a future roadmap and reinforce organisational structures, signalling a renewed emphasis on grassroots mobilisation.
The cancellation in Raebareli—long regarded as a Congress bastion—coincides with heightened political activity in Assam, where both Gandhi and Kharge have intensified their campaign. Gandhi, during a rally in Chaygaon near Guwahati, accused Assam’s chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma of acting like a “king” and pledged that, if Congress returns to power, Sarma would face accountability for his actions. Sarma swiftly retaliated via social media, alleging Gandhi’s own legal entanglements and suggesting the criticism only served to amplify his profile.
Congress leaders in Assam have also been directed to update their profile pictures on social media with images of Kharge and Gandhi, ahead of a big rally scheduled for July 16. The initiative, driven by state unit president Gaurav Gogoi, underscores the party’s bid to foster unity and cohesion.
Despite the cancellation of the Raebareli visit, the Assam tour signals a broader strategy aimed at reviving Congress’s fortunes in the region. The engagement with state leaders appears to focus on revitalising organisational structures, refining campaign messaging, and delineating responsibilities at district and constituency levels.
Kharge and Gandhi’s presence in Assam—marked by discussions and public rallies—coincides with an era of mounting expectations for Congress to reclaim lost ground in regional strongholds. Their visit marks the deployment of central leadership resources to bolster local units, reinforcing the party’s determination to challenge the governing BJP in the next assembly elections.
Gandhi’s remarks in Chaygaon centred on allegations of resource misappropriation, arguing that Sarma’s policies favour large corporations and neglect the common man. He invoked the slogan of grassroots empowerment, stating that Assam’s youth, farmers, and workers would spearhead the exposure of what he called “misdeeds”.
Sarma’s counter-attack was immediate and pointed, leveraging Gandhi’s legal vulnerabilities and branding the opposition efforts as politically motivated theatrics. On X, he declared, “He himself is out on bail in multiple criminal cases,” and insisted that Gandhi’s focus on him served to inflate his own stature.
Amid this war of words, Kharge emphasised the need for Congress to strengthen its organisational framework in Assam. Though specifics of the roadmap remain undisclosed, party insiders suggest efforts are underway to revitalise district committees, enhance volunteer outreach, and sharpen policy messaging on development, employment, and governance.
In Raebareli, the cancellation of Gandhi’s scheduled visit stands in sharp contrast to his assertive political engagement in Assam. The absence has already spurred speculation among local political circles concerning health, logistics, or strategic recalibration. Congress sources declined to elaborate, limiting the explanation to “unavoidable reasons” without further comment.
Gandhi's parliamentary constituency has historically been the site of intense campaign activity. Analysts note that a leadership presence would have reinforced the party’s commitment to regional strongholds, particularly in an era of escalating political competition. With looming electoral contests in several states, Congress appears to be deploying a dual strategy: consolidating core bases such as Raebareli while intensively campaigning in regions perceived as ripe for revival, such as Assam.
The Assam visit also aligns with the ongoing Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra—a multi-state campaign aimed at addressing social justice, national unity and economic concerns. The tour is shaping up as an effort to convert grassroots momentum into tangible political gains through structured party-building and pointed critique of incumbent governance.
As the campaign in Assam intensifies and the future roadmap takes shape, the focus now turns to whether the cancellations in Raebareli portend a shift in priorities or the need for internal organisation. With Gandhi and Kharge working in tandem, Congress is projecting a message of revitalisation, discipline and readiness to contest at multiple fronts.