Guwahati, April 24: With Panchayat elections in Assam set for May 2 and 7, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has launched an aggressive campaign across the state, focusing on corruption under previous regimes and developmental strides under the current government.
At two high-energy rallies held in Madhya Telahi and Bihpuria under the Nowboicha constituency in Lakhimpur district, BJP Assam Pradesh president and Member of Parliament Dilip Saikia came down heavily on the Congress party.
“Congress is synonymous with corruption—and corruption means Congress itself,” Saikia declared. He accused the Congress of exploiting the Panchayati Raj system to loot rural communities. “To access government housing, poor families had to pay bribes between ₹10,000 and ₹20,000. Some even sold cows, goats, and pets just to get what was rightfully theirs,” he said.
Saikia contrasted this with the BJP-led alliance’s governance, claiming it had rooted out corruption in the Panchayat system. He highlighted that under the revised Panchayat Act, more powers have been devolved to local self-governments. Since 2021, the government has provided housing to 20 lakh families, built extensive rural road networks, and ensured piped water supply under the Jal Jeevan Mission. Gram Sabhas are now actively used to ensure transparency in beneficiary selection, he added.
The BJP, contesting the Panchayat elections under the NDA banner, is seeking votes with the promise of continued development, clean governance, and stronger rural empowerment. “We appeal for public support to strengthen the Double Engine Government and accelerate village-level transformation,” Saikia said.
The Lakhimpur rallies drew large, enthusiastic crowds, signalling strong local support for the BJP. Also present at the event were MP Ranjit Dutta, Lakhimpur District BJP president Shyamal Sharma, MLA Amiya Kumar Bhuyan, Mandal presidents, and senior party workers.
