"Won't Merge With Trinamool, But Will Fight BJP": Assam Leader Akhil Gogoi

Akhil Gogoi's remarks come days after Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee proposed a joining of forces to take on the BJP in Assam and Tripura

Assam activist and MLA Akhil Gogoi has told NDTV that while a merger of his Raijor Dal with Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress is not possible, the two parties are hoping to work together against the BJP and its ideological mentor, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Mr Gogoi's remarks come days after Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee proposed a joining of forces to take on the BJP in Assam - where it retained power after the April-May election - and Tripura - where elections are due in 2023. "We have held three rounds of meetings with the Trinamool so far... they proposed my party - Raijor Dal - merge with them, and they wanted me to take charge as President of the Trinamool's Assam State Committee," Mr Gogoi, the MLA from Sivasagar, told NDTV. "We are discussing all aspects internally... we will decide soon. (But) we will not merge with Trinamool. The Raijor Dal is a regional political party," he said, adding, "We would like to unite all regional forces in the country and unite against the BJP-RSS."