Guwahati, Mar 26: Political exchanges intensified in Assam ahead of the Assembly elections, with Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma criticising the Congress-led opposition and asserting public support for the BJP.

Addressing reporters on Wednesday, Sarma described the opposition campaign as lacking direction and referred to Congress’s past record. He stated that the BJP had strengthened the state’s cultural identity and claimed broad public backing for his party.

Sarma also questioned Congress’s prospects at the national level during his remarks.

In response, Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi said there was growing public support for political change in the state. Leading the opposition alliance, Gogoi stated that voters were looking at an opportunity to replace the BJP government and called for building a “new Assam.”

According to the Election Commission of India, polling for all 126 Assembly constituencies is scheduled for April 9, with counting of votes set for May 4.

In the 2021 Assembly elections, the BJP-led NDA won 75 seats, including 60 secured by the BJP. The Congress-led alliance won 16 seats. Voter turnout stood at 86.2 percent, with over 2.2 crore registered voters participating.