Guwahati, Mar 10: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Tuesday that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will finalize its candidates for the upcoming Assam Legislative Assembly elections between March 11 and 15.
Addressing the media here, Sarma said if the Election Commission postpones the poll dates, the party would hold a third phase of its Jan Ashirwad Yatra. “We will do the third phase of Yatra; otherwise, this Yatra will continue along with the election,” he added.
Sarma launched a sharp attack on the Congress, accusing it of trying to disrupt the Yatra at some places. Targeting leaders Gaurav Gogoi and Rakibul Hussain, he quipped, “BJP will gain if they are both in the Congress party. Just like PM Modi will always be the Prime Minister if Rahul Gandhi is in Congress.” He claimed no significant Congress presence in areas with Sanatani, tribal, Hindu, and Assamese (both Hindu and Muslim) communities.
Dismissing opposition claims that the BJP-led government’s Orunodoi scheme transferring Rs 3,600 crore to 40 lakh women beneficiaries is politically motivated, Sarma noted the scheme has run for six years without mass transfers. “We have already won three elections after implementing this scheme. This is a very controlled scheme… limited to categories like widows, divyang (handicapped), and families with cancer patients,” he said. Each beneficiary will receive Rs 9,000 for four months via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
Sarma highlighted the Yatra’s success, covering 1,200 km in the first phase over 14 hours daily across 25 constituencies in eight days. Started on February 28 from Dhekiajuli, the Yatra has spanned over 900 km and 32 constituencies, drawing lakhs of supporters. “I have not seen this kind of public response in my entire political life,” he said.
The BJP is also set to finalize seat-sharing with allies like Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), with potential inclusion of Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) boosting the NDA. The 126-seat Assembly is expected to go to polls in March-April, though the Election Commission has not announced dates. In 2021, the NDA won 75 seats, with BJP securing 60.
