“People have hopes (from us) against the BJP and other communal forces. We were told by Rahul ji and Kharge ji that the AICC trusts the state leadership,” Borah told reporters. (X/@BhupenKBorah)The chief of the Assam Congress unit Thursday indicated that the party could contest the elections in the state next year without a chief ministerial face.The statement came after top state Congress leaders held a poll strategy meeting with party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi.Following the two-hour meeting, Assam Congress chief Bhupen Kumar Borah said the state leadership would fight the BJP and “other communal forces” unitedly.Assam Leader of Opposition Debabrata Saikia, the party’s state working president Jakir Hussain Sikdar and MP Gaurav Gogoi were present at the meeting.“People have hopes (from us) against the BJP and other communal forces. We were told by Rahul ji and Kharge ji that the AICC trusts the state leadership,” Borah told reporters.Asked if the Congress would have a chief ministerial face in the Assembly elections, he said: “This leadership that we have here… I am the president, the CLP leader is here, our MP is here. We have resolved to fight unitedly with one voice. You will see this from the month of March.”The meeting came days after some senior Congress leaders in Assam were learnt to have asked the party high command to make Gogoi the president of the state Congress unit. Gogoi is also the Congress Deputy leader in Lok Sabha. The party, however, has stuck with Borah.Story continues below this ad“We promised the high command that we will work together to remove the BJP from power in the state. From March, we will go unitedly to the people. We gave papers related to corruption by the most corrupt CM, Himanta Biswa Sarma,” Borah said.The Congress is looking to wrest power from the BJP after its 10-year rule in Assam.The elections to the 126-member Assam Assembly are slated for the first half of the next year. The tenure of the current assembly ends on May 20, 2026.The Congress has opened a front against the BJP government and CM Sarma on the issue of alleged corruption in the state.Story continues below this adOn the other hand, Sarma has accused Gogoi’s wife of having links with Pakistan and the ISI. The Congress has said that Gogoi is being targeted as he has been vocal against the chief minister.© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd