Guwahati, 16 July (HS): Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi paid a one-day visit to Assam on Wednesday, engaging in a series of strategic meetings with state party leaders aimed at revitalising the organisation.

Their visit began with a closed-door session at a hotel near the Guwahati airport, where the leaders interacted with members of tribal communities and individuals allegedly facing displacement and persecution. This initial round of discussions set the tone for a day of intensive party deliberations.

Later in the day, Kharge and Gandhi convened with the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) leadership, including APCC office bearers, MPs, MLAs, DCC Presidents, and heads of various frontal organisations. According to party sources, the focus of the meeting was on chalking out a roadmap for the future and devising strategies to tackle political challenges in the state.

State Congress president Gaurav Gogoi, welcoming the central leadership, shared photos from the session on social media and wrote, “It was a privilege to host kharge and Rahul Gandhi for an important discussion on strengthening the party in Assam.”

Another round of discussions held later in the afternoon at Chaygaon, around 40 km from Guwahati. This visit marks the first time the party's top leadership has visited the state since Gogoi assumed charge as APCC president, ahead of the 2026 Assembly polls.

Kharge and Gandhi were accorded a warm reception at Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport by senior state Congress leaders, who greeted them with traditional Assamese 'gamosas'.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash