BJP retains Assam, improves 2016 tally
GUWAHATI: As predicted by most exit polls, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) returned to power in Assam, becoming the first nonCongress government to win consecutive terms in the northeastern state.
The BJP and its allies won 76 seats in the 126-member assembly, while the opposition Congress and its allies won 46 seats, according to the results announced by the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Sunday.
The BJP on its own won 56 seats while its alliance partner Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and United Peoples Party Liberal (UPPL) won 12 and eight seats respectively.
“This is the result of the support of the people,” said chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal
“We are grateful to voters for reposing faith in us for the next five years and will work with renewed energy for them,” said BJP spokesperson Subhash Dutta.
On the other hand, Congress won 28 seats while alliance partners All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) bagged 14 and Bodoland Peoples’ Front (BPF) and the CPI(M) won one seat each.
In 2016, the BJP and its allies had won 86 seats and formed the government in Assam.
NEW DELHI: Having retained power in Assam, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will now need to take a decision on whether to keep chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal at the helm or elevate Himanta Biswa Sarma, Assam’s health and finance minister, who has steadily gained strength within the party since defecting from the Congress in the run-up to the 2014 elections.
The campaign season has been marked by speculation of Sonowal possibly getting a role in the Union government and Sarma taking his place as CM, particularly since the BJP did not name a CM candidate outright.
“Any decision that will be taken will be after a call is taken at the Parliamentary board. Central observers will be sent and there will be legislative party meeting,” said Jay Panda, BJP vice president and in-charge of Assam.
Senior party leaders in Assam as well as in the central BJP too have said any change will be only after consultation at the highest decision making body.
In the run up to the elections, while Sonowal was not named as the CM candidate, senior BJP leaders said the party will contest under his leadership. They pointed to the “dominating presence” of the CM in the posters as indication of no changes in the offing.
Sonowal and Sarma themselves have dismissed speculation about their future role as creation of the media and stressed that they work together as a team. In an interview to HT in March, the CM said, “I am a committed party person and want the party to come to power. We work as a team and the stories of a tussle are made up by the media.”
Sarma, for his part, said it did not matter what he thought, and the decision would ultimately be taken by the PM and the Union home minister Amit Shah.
Sonowal, popularly known as the Jatiya Nayak, for his role as the petitioner in the Illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunal) Act, 1983 (IMDT Act) case, which was struck down by the Supreme Court on 12 July, 2005, has emerged as a popular CM with a clean image. He is also credited with dousing the anger that erupted in the state, particularly in Upper Assam, after the citizenship amendment act (CAA) was passed.
His hold over the indigenous tribes is also counted in his favour.
But, a section within the party has pushed for Sarma, who defected from the Congress ahead of the 2014 general elections, to be made the CM.
“There is a lot of work that was accomplished in the state by Sarma -- whether it was ensuring relief to flood-affected areas or during the corona pandemic. That apart, his role in strengthening the BJP in the entire north eastern region is also creditworthy,” said a senior leader, asking not to be named.
Sarma has emerged as the BJP’s key troubleshooter in the northeast region.
Declining to comment on the popularity of the two leaders, Panda said the reason for the BJP’s win has been its performance. “There was a pro-incumbency environment. This is a new development nationally, under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi and now it is visible in the regions as well. There has been a dramatic improvement in the governance in the state (Assam) starting with the Prime Minister’s focus on the northeast and its development — massive infrastructure work has been carried out, there is a dramatic improvement in law and order, infiltration has been reduced and there is a crackdown on corruption while no communal riots have taken place, as was the case during the Congress rule,” Panda said.