Guwahati, Jan 1: The Assam Congress has intensified its criticism of the BJP-led state government, demanding a white paper on the outcomes of the 2018 Advantage Assam Global Investors Summit and condemning recent policies allegedly restricting electoral participation of the poor in the upcoming panchayat elections.
Leader of Opposition Debabrata Saikia, addressing a press conference on Tuesday, raised concerns about the effectiveness of the 2018 Advantage Assam summit. He noted that, while 209 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) worth nearly ₹1 lakh crore were signed, only ₹6,575.84 crore has materialized across eight industries.
“We demand a white paper from the government on the outcomes of Advantage Assam 1.0 before the second edition in February,” Saikia stated. “What percentage of investments from the signed MoUs has been realized? How much was spent on the summit and on foreign tours by ministers and MLAs?”
The second edition of Advantage Assam is scheduled for February 24-25, 2025, but Saikia argued there is little justification for it without a transparent assessment of the first. Government officials cited the COVID-19 pandemic as a reason for delays in some projects, but the Congress remains unconvinced, questioning the tangible benefits for Assam’s economy.
PANCHAYAT ELECTIONS: Turning to the upcoming March 2025 panchayat elections, Saikia accused the BJP of “murdering democracy” through a notification by the Panchayat and Rural Development Department that disqualifies government beneficiaries from contesting. Calling the move unconstitutional, he argued it disproportionately excludes poorer citizens dependent on subsidized resources like rice.
“The BJP is conspiring to dominate the poor by barring them from elections,” he said. “Over 80% of the population falls below the poverty line, and this policy denies them their democratic rights. The government must also clarify whether pensioners are classified as beneficiaries under these rules.”
The panchayat elections, involving 1.8 crore voters, including 89.54 lakh women, have seen heightened scrutiny due to the delimitation of constituencies. The state now has 397 Zilla Parishad constituencies, 181 Anchalik Panchayats, 2,192 Gaon Panchayats, and 21,920 wards.
The Gauhati High Court has temporarily halted the electoral process, directing the State Election Commission to refrain from issuing notifications until challenges surrounding delimitation are resolved. The next hearing is scheduled for January 9, 2025.
With Advantage Assam 2.0 and the panchayat elections on the horizon, Saikia’s remarks have intensified political debates over governance, transparency, and democratic inclusion in Assam.
