The Bokakhat constituency in the Assam Assembly Election 2026 is set for a high-profile contest, with former two-time MLA Jiten Gogoi entering the fray as an independent candidate against AGP President and sitting legislator Atul Bora.
Gogoi, who leads the Bokakhat Nirman Group, was the first candidate to file his nomination from the constituency. He kicked off his campaign with prayers at Haldibari Butai Than in Kaziranga before taking his outreach to tribal areas, tea garden belts, rural pockets, and urban zones.
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Gogoi has deliberately chosen a different campaign approach, focusing on roadside meetings and courtyard gatherings rather than large election rallies.
He claims that supporters from both the BJP and AGP have already extended their backing, with several others volunteering to join his campaign. Despite receiving offers from political parties, he said he turned them all down, choosing to contest independently under the Bokakhat Nirman Group banner.
"If I win, I will support whichever government comes to power," Gogoi said, adding that his sole focus is the development of Bokakhat and completing public welfare projects left unfinished during his previous tenures as MLA.
Reflecting his development-first stance, Gogoi said he is willing to engage even with his electoral opponent Atul Bora or MP Kamakhya Tasa if it serves Bokakhat's interests.
However, he drew a clear line with the Congress leadership, stating that the current Congress hierarchy has no meaningful political connection with Bokakhat. He said he does not respond to calls from Congress President Gaurav Gogoi for that reason.
Jiten Gogoi's political biography is one of the more unusual in Assam's public life. After early involvement with student organisations, he joined the ULFA. His time with the outfit ended in conflict following the brutal killing of senior ULFA leader Ratul Kotoki from Bokakhat by the organisation itself.
Gogoi left ULFA even before the formal surrender phase began under former Chief Minister Hiteswar Saikia — surviving multiple assassination attempts by the outfit before returning home.
Back in Bokakhat, he channelled his energy into community building. He organised local youth under the 'Nava Udita Yuvak Sangha,' promoted tea cultivation and rabi crop farming, and — inspired by a visit to Bangladesh — went on to establish over 500 self-help groups in the area. He claims that the self-help group movement, now widely recognised across India, had its earliest roots in Bokakhat.