Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday expressed confidence that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would return to power in the state with a “thumping majority” in the upcoming Assembly elections, expected to be held in March or April.
Speaking to reporters after offering prayers at the Mata Tripura Sundari temple in Udaipur, located in Tripura’s Gomati district, Sarma said the election schedule was likely to be announced in February.
Citing the performance of the BJP government over the past five years, Sarma said the party had fulfilled all the promises made to the people of Assam. “Considering the work done by the BJP government and the fact that 100 per cent of the promises made have been fulfilled, the party is well placed to return to power with a thumping majority in the 126-member Assam Assembly,” he said.
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The chief minister asserted that the forthcoming elections would be fought on the twin issues of development and identity. He highlighted employment generation as a key achievement of the government, stating that around 1.6 lakh youths had been provided government jobs in a transparent manner during the last five years.
Sarma also raised concerns over what he described as infiltration from Bangladesh into the Northeast, particularly Assam. “Infiltration is a complex situation in the Northeast, particularly in Assam. It is apprehended that the Muslim population will be 40 per cent of the total population in Assam after the Census. We are battling for survival,” he said.
He added that while the governments of Assam and Tripura were taking action to address the issue, the West Bengal government was not doing enough. “If we want to survive in the Northeast, we have to do a lot along the India-Bangladesh border. That's why the BJP staying in power in Assam and Tripura is crucial. The saffron party's win in West Bengal polls is equally important,” Sarma said.
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