Guwahati, 27 October (HS): Once a political force that commanded victories across parliamentary, assembly and local elections in Assam, the Congress now appears to be celebrating victories at a considerably smaller scale, with a win in a single municipal corporation seat becoming an occasion for a gathering of senior party leaders.

In a reflection of the party’s changing political fortunes, Congress candidate Rajashree Gowala, who won a seat in the Silchar Municipal Corporation election, was felicitated at Rajiv Bhawan, the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) headquarters, in Guwahati on Tuesday.

The ceremony was attended by AICC general secretary and Assam in-charge Bhupesh Baghel, former chief minister of Chhattisgarh, in the presence of APCC president Gaurav Gogoi. Dhubri MP Rakibul Hussain, Leader of the Opposition in the Assam Assembly Wajed Ali Choudhury, APCC administrative general secretary Bipul Gogoi and Congress leader Pranjal Ghatowar were also among those present.

The event offered an opportunity to celebrate a local electoral victory, but also invited an ironic question about the party’s political journey in Assam: Has the Congress travelled so far from its days of sweeping electoral victories that winning a single municipal seat now calls for a grand reception attended by its top leadership?

For a party that once aspired to dominate the state’s political landscape, the celebration of one municipal corporation victory with such a formidable lineup of leaders provides a telling snapshot of its present political standing. Whether this enthusiasm marks the beginning of a revival or merely reflects the shrinking scale of electoral celebrations remains to be seen.----------

Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash