Goalpara West MLA Abdur Rashid Mandal Quits Congress, Joins Raijor Dal

Amid a spate of exits from the Congress ahead of the 2026 Assam Assembly elections, Goalpara West MLA Abdur Rashid Mandal resigned from the party on Monday and joined Raijor Dal.

A three-time MLA, Mandal said he felt sidelined in the Congress and lacked opportunities to serve people. He joined Raijor Dal in the presence of party president Akhil Gogoi. Tai Ahom Students’ Union chief adviser Dulal Baruah also joined the party.

Claiming growing support, Gogoi said several MLAs from the BJP, AGP and AIUDF are in touch with Raijor Dal and asserted the party is aiming to win 10–15 seats in 2026. He added that seat-sharing talks with Congress are underway, with agreement reached on 12 of the 15 seats demanded.