New Delhi, May 1: As the results of the assembly elections are set to be announced, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has higher expectations than mere victory. His goal is to break the 60-seat barrier and secure a full majority for the BJP independently for the first time.
When the BJP came to power in Assam in 2016, it formed the government with the support of two major allies: the Assam Gana Parishad and the Bodoland People’s Front. In the 126-member assembly, the BJP won 60 out of the 89 seats contested in alliance with its partners, garnering approximately 29.51% of the total vote share. This marked a significant increase compared to the five seats it had previously won.
Meanwhile, the Assam Gana Parishad contested 30 seats and won 14, achieving a vote share of about 8.14%. The Bodoland People’s Front fielded candidates in 13 seats, winning all but one. The Congress party was ousted from power, contesting 122 seats but managing to secure only 26, with a vote share of 30.96%.
In 2021, the BJP fell slightly short of a majority again, winning 60 seats once more. However, this time, its vote share increased to 33.21%. The Assam Gana Parishad managed to win only nine out of 29 seats.
The United People’s Party Liberal, which had not won any seats in alliance with Congress in 2016, secured six seats this time in collaboration with the BJP.
Sarbananda Sonowal, the first Chief Minister from the BJP in Assam, was initially chosen to lead the government but was later called to the center and included in the Union Cabinet. Himanta Biswa Sarma became Chief Minister in May 2021 and has successfully led the Assam government and the North-East Democratic Alliance across seven northeastern states.
Notably, Sarma has made a significant ideological shift during his tenure. He left Congress in 2015, citing two main reasons: disputes over leadership and succession involving “family-centric” figures at the top of the party. He has criticized the Congress for not adequately prioritizing Assamese identity and regional interests.
Sarma emerged as a powerful strategist within Assam Congress and had hoped to succeed Tarun Gogoi as Chief Minister. He claimed that most Congress MLAs at the time viewed him as the next leader, but the central leadership was not willing to promote him, opting instead for family-centric leadership.
After joining the BJP, he became one of the key strategists for the party in the Northeast. He argues that the BJP’s emphasis on “Nation First” and strong security for border states aligns more closely with his vision for Assam.
He has successfully framed the issue of illegal immigration as a major concern, addressing local fears regarding Bangladeshi infiltration. This has led to several clashes and even riots between local populations and Bengali-speaking Muslims.
According to the 2011 census, Assam has 61.50% Hindus and 34.22% Muslims, with some claiming that the latter’s numbers have significantly increased. Sarma has used this divide to strengthen the North-East Democratic Alliance, particularly in Assam, where he has referred to Muslims as ‘Miya,’ a term that is generally considered respectful.
Despite facing accusations of polarization, Sarma has publicly presented “peace, harmony, and development” as the three main achievements of his four-year tenure. He has established himself as a decisive and development-focused leader, overseeing infrastructure expansion, digital governance reforms, and social welfare initiatives.
Recent reports about potential changes in the Chief Minister’s position seem to be based on hypothetical scenarios of dissatisfaction with the current government. So far, there is no evidence that the BJP’s top leadership has internally chosen an alternative or formally indicated plans for a change. It remains to be seen what decisions the party’s central leadership will make following the election results announced on Monday.
My name is Narendra Jijhontiya. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including TECHNOLOGY, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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