Guwahati: Of all the five Assembly elections, Assam’s results have given BJP the loudest cheer. BJP’s emphatic victory in Assam comes as a major blow to the Congress party which was at the helm of the northeastern state for three consecutive terms. The saffron party, which had been desperate for a win after a crushing defeat in Delhi and Bihar, won 86 seats in alliance with Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) and Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) in the 126-member Assembly.
Sarbananda Sonowal who is currently the union sports minister will head the state after a resounding victory in the polls. Sonowal won from the prestigious Majuli seat defeating sitting Congress MLA Rajib Lochan Pegu by a margin of 18,923 votes and will be sworn in as the chief minister on May 24.
BJP chief ministerial candidate Sarbananda Sonowal along with Senior BJP leaders Ram Madhav and Himanta Biswa Sarma celebrating the party's thumping victory. (Photo: PTI)
The party’s first ever triumph in the state paves way for BJP to widen its influence in the Northeastern region of the country. Reading into the trends of the recently conducted Assam polls, political pundits cited anti-incumbency as one of the important reasons which set the stage for BJP’s outstanding performance. Keeping in tune with the development agenda of the NDA government which created wonders in the 2014 general assembly elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi once again played the development card in the run-up to the polls. Besides, issues like Bangladeshi infiltration and rising unemployment acted as catalysts accentuating the party’s chances of triumph in the state.
Among factors governing Congress’s defeat in the recently conducted polls, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi’s arrogance might have been one of the major ones. His attempt to portray himself as a ‘blunt chief minister’ alienated the party in the state. Furthermore, Himanta Biswa Sarma’s exit from Congress ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections made the situation worse. Sarma was in Congress when the party took the decision of forging an alliance with Bodoland Peoples Front in 2011 and registered a landslide victory by winning 79 seats. However, Sarma’s chief ministerial aspirations being at loggerheads with Gogoi’s led to the former’s expulsion. With Sarma throwing his weight behind BJP, Congress considerably lost its ground in the state as he carried a considerable clout in the state. Further, Sarma, was the first to advise BJP to forge an alliance with the Bodoland Peoples Front. Though the Bodo population accounts for a meagre 12.5 percent, their presence is spread over 50 Assembly segments which was quite clearly avoided by the then ruling party.
BJP chief ministerial candidate Sarbananda Sonowal exchanging sweets with party leader Himanta Biswa Sarma. (Photo: PTI)
An overall disenchantment with the status quo was another reason which led to Congress’s defeat in the state. Stagnant growth rate, large scale unemployment and unfulfilled promises of the party didn’t go down well with the people of Assam which inevitably gave reasons to the voters to muse over an alternative option.
While reading into the demographic composition of the state, one can further unravel the factors determining Congress’s drubbing in Assam. Going by the statistics, more than third of the voters are under the age of 30 and about two-thirds are under the age of 50 which inevitably demands more employment opportunities. Failed aspirations and unfulfilled promises turned the table against Congress as the party failed to pursue people-friendly policies.
How major political leaders reacted
Outgoing Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi conceded defeat and assured the people of Assam that his party will continue to serve effectively. "I am not disheartened but of course I am sad and it is natural. Ups and downs are part of life and I have seen many ups and downs in my political life. People have not left us. We had faced a worse defeat than this in the hands of AGP after the Assam agitation," Gogoi added. Besides, the veteran Congress leader congratulated BJP's chief ministerial candidate Sarbananda Sonowal and termed his party's victory as "grand success".
BJP chief ministerial candidate Sarbananda Sonowal flashes victory sign with party leader Mahendra Singh at a victory procession after the party's thumping win. (Photo: PTI)
Overwhelmed by BJP’s new feat, Amit Shah said, "The victory in Assam is very crucial. It is a border state from where a Congress Prime Minister (Manmohan Singh) ruled for 10 years and now we have been able to have our own government. It is a big achievement."
Attributing credit for the party’s victory to all the ethnic and indigenous people of Assam, BJP’s chief ministerial candidate Sarbanada Sonowal clarified that his government would like to work with its alliance partners without any prejudice and promised to cater to the needs of people.
How major leaders fared
In what has left the Congress party baffling, its stalwarts and frontline leaders of the state had to bite the dust in Thursday’s counting of votes in Assam. Prominent Congress leaders who lost the elections include Pradyut Borodoloi, a three-time cabinet minister and adviser to chief minister. Bordoloi lost to BJP candidate Bhaskar Sarmah from the historic Margherita constituency which has traditionally been a Congress bastion. Former Union minister Pawan Singh Ghatwar, Etwa Munda, ex-minister Akon Bora are among the other Congress leaders who lost the elections. Further, BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma, won from Jalukbari constituency of Assam.
BJP’s feat in Assam is indeed remarkable and draws a parallel with the 1985 Assam Assembly polls, when the Asom Gana Parishad came to power for the first time immediately after the historic Assam Accord. Both polls share common ground like their views on Bangladeshi infiltration and development issues which formed the crux of the electoral duel. Despite being in power for two terms, the regional party AGP failed to improve the status of Assam, which then gave way to Congress victories. However, after a prolonged period of dormancy, the regional party has finally revived its lost sheen as an ally of the BJP.
However, despite a thunderous win, BJP is yet to prove itself in the state. Taking into consideration that the party will be holding the reins for the first time, BJP's stint in the state will be closely observed by political leaders and people who expect a lot from the party after Congress's failed tenure
