Guwahati, May 13: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday said the BJP’s landslide win in the recent panchayat elections signals growing trust from both majority and minority communities, particularly Muslim voters and women.
Speaking at a press conference at the party’s state headquarters alongside Assam BJP president Dilip Saikia, Sarma said, “Minority people are getting closer to the BJP. It’s clearly reflected in these results,” crediting the shift to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s inclusive development policy, “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas.”
Sarma pointed to key initiatives such as the Triple Talaq Act and the Orunodoi welfare scheme as reasons behind increased support from Muslim women. “Earlier there was fear-mongering that BJP would target mosques and madrassas, but those claims have proven false,” he said.
He claimed the BJP is now receiving up to 30% of minority votes in certain areas, a significant gain.
The BJP-led NDA captured 300 out of 397 Zila Parishad Member (ZPM) seats — with BJP alone winning 272, AGP taking 28, and Rabha Hason Joutha Mancha (contesting under the BJP symbol) winning 4 in Goalpara. The NDA’s vote share stood at 76.22%.
In Anchalik Panchayat results, the NDA won 1,436 of 2,192 seats, including 1,247 by BJP and 171 by AGP. The combined vote share was 66%.
The Congress managed just 72 ZPM seats with an 18% vote share, compared to 35% in the 2018 panchayat elections. In Anchalik Panchayats, its share dropped to 21%.
“Congress is now limited to a few minority-dominated areas. They didn’t win a single seat in Hindu-majority constituencies,” Sarma remarked.
The Chief Minister said the BJP has made inroads in Muslim-majority districts like Barpeta, Nalbari, and Jaleswar. “Even in areas we didn’t win, the votes we polled from minority communities were significant,” he noted.
He added that support from tea garden workers, six ethnic communities, and rural Assam has been rising, suggesting broad-based backing for the party.
Calling the victory a strong mid-term endorsement, Sarma said the results are a reflection of public trust, coming one year after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and ahead of the 2026 Assembly polls.
“This is not just a numbers game. It shows confidence in our governance,” he said, expressing confidence that the BJP could secure 105 seats in the next assembly elections if the current momentum holds.
Sarma also criticized Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi, accusing him of ignoring constituency issues and benefitting from his political legacy. “He speaks about Manipur in Parliament but not Jorhat. Tarun Gogoi never tried to make his son a foreign citizen, but the son isn’t a grassroots worker,” he said.
The Chief Minister thanked Prime Minister Modi, BJP president J.P. Nadda, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and B.L. Santhosh for their support during the campaign.
“This win is the people’s verdict for development and good governance. We now have an even greater responsibility to fulfil their expectations,” Sarma added.
