Sarbananda Sonowal, current union Sports Minister and BJP leader, is all set to head his party in their first government in the northeastern state of Assam. With counting of votes of the Assembly elections held on May 16, underway, the Bharatiya Janta Party has already denied Congress leader and Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi a fourth consecutive term.
“The big challenges will be sealing the border, infiltration, and unemployment,” Sonowal said. He had pledged secularism as a key part of his administration as people threw flak at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his party of being anti-immigrant and aggressive. Assam has the second highest percentage of Muslims in the country, at 34 per cent. Himanta Biswa Sarma, Gogoi's close aide until he switched sides right before the elections, said if the BJP is elected, it will try to bar Muslims of Bangladeshi origin who entered India between 1951 and 1971, from voting. He said they could stay but would have to re-apply for citizenship.
Learning from past mistakes made in Bihar elections, the BJP made major changes in their strategy. The party chose local partners and promoted state leaders. “We are here for Hindus and Indian Muslims and they are with us,” Sonowal had said while campaigning.
"We are here for Hindus and Indian Muslims and they are with us," Mr Sonowal had told NDTV while campaigning. Meanwhile, outgoing Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi accepted defeat in the Assembly polls and said the Congress party will play the role of a constructive opposition in the Assembly. The BJP-led NDA surged ahead of the ruling Congress in the state, leading in 72 of the 126 constituencies at the end of three hours of counting of votes. While BJP is leading in 45, NDA allies AGP are leading in 17 and 10 constituencies respectively. Sonowal is leading in Majuli, by 9305 votes over his nearest Congress rival, sitting MLA Rajib Lochan Pegu.
Meanwhile, Tarun Gogoi said the party accepts defeat but will play the role of a constructive Opposition. “With all humbleness, we accept the defeat in Assam. People are expecting they will deliver better than us, that's why they have voted for them. Let them deliver on their promises. We will play a constructive and effective opposition.” He added, “Wins and defeats are part of political system. This is part of a democratic system. We aren't disheartened. I would be 100 per cent in active politics. There is no question of any alliance.”
