BJP’s massive panchayat win signals growing minority support: Assam CM

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMay 13, 2025

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday said the BJP’s sweeping victory in the recent Assam panchayat elections reflects a “clear mandate” from both majority and minority communities, with signs of increasing support from Muslim voters and women.

Addressing a press conference at the party office here in the presence of Assam BJP president Dilip Saikia Sarma said, “Minority people are getting closer to the BJP. It’s visible in the panchayat results,” attributing this shift to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s governance mantra of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas.”

He cited the Triple Talaq Act and welfare schemes like Orunodoi as major factors attracting Muslim women to the BJP. “There was propaganda that BJP would demolish mosques and madrassas. But that fear is gone. Nothing like that happened,” he said.

Sarma claimed the BJP is now securing 30% of the minority vote in some areas—more than expected.

Out of 397 Zila Parishad Member (ZPM) seats, the NDA won 300 seats—BJP took 272, AGP 28, and Rabha Hason Joutha Mancha (contesting under BJP’s symbol) won 4 seats in Goalpara district. The NDA’s vote share stood at 76.22%.

In Anchalik Panchayat contests, NDA claimed 1,436 of 2,192 seats, with BJP alone securing 1,247 and AGP winning 171. The NDA’s vote share here was 66%.

The Congress, by comparison, won just 72 ZPM seats with 18% vote share, a sharp decline from its 35% vote share in the 2018 panchayat elections. In Anchalik Panchayats, Congress received 21% of the vote.

“Congress got votes only in minority areas. They didn’t win a single seat in Hindu-dominated constituencies,” Sarma said.

Sarma highlighted strong BJP showings even in Muslim-majority regions such as Barpeta, Nalbari, and Jaleswar. “In some areas, even when our candidates lost, the number of votes we received was significant,” he added.

He also mentioned rising support from tea workers, six ethnic groups, and mainstream communities.

The Chief Minister stressed that this victory—coming a year after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and a year ahead of the 2026 Assembly polls—was more than electoral arithmetic.

“It is a reflection of people’s trust in our government and our way of working,” Sarma said. “This result is not just about numbers—it’s a vote of confidence.”

He projected BJP could win 105 seats in the 2026 Assembly elections if it continues delivering results.

Sarma also targeted Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi, accusing him of neglecting local issues and benefiting from dynastic politics. “An MP from Jorhat talks about Manipur in Parliament but not about Jorhat. Tarun Gogoi never thought of making his son a foreign citizen. The son will not be a karyakarta like a party worker,” Sarma said.

Sarma thanked PM Modi and top BJP leaders J.P. Nadda, Amit Shah, and B.L. Santhosh for their support.

“This win belongs to the people and the vision of a strong and developed Assam. We now carry an even greater responsibility to deliver on our promises,” he concluded.