Himanta Biswa Sarma Bets on Bulldozer to Blunt Congress
Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma! (Image X.com)
With 2026 Elections Looming, Assam CM Channels Saffron Symbolism Amid Gaurav Gogoi’s Assamese Identity Push
By MANISH ANAND
NEW DELHI, July 21, 2025 — Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has stirred unease within the state BJP by declaring that not all sitting MLAs will receive party tickets for the 2026 Assembly elections. His remarks came during the BJP’s two-day-long Chintan Shivir held in Guwahati, signaling a churn within the party’s state unit.
In what appears to be a strategic move ahead of the polls, Sarma is increasingly projecting himself as the saffron strongman of Assam, emulating the style of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. His embrace of hardline rhetoric coincides with a renewed push by the Congress to reclaim power in the state.
Political circles in Guwahati are rife with speculation that the BJP may deny tickets to at least two dozen incumbent MLAs. As anticipation builds, Sarma has become a subject of viral social media reels and shorts portraying him as Assam’s “bulldozer man” — a leader cracking down on “illegal” settlements allegedly inhabited by Bangladeshi immigrants. He has also taken the lead in campaigns aimed at pushing these alleged immigrants out of the state, cementing his image as a saffron hardliner.
However, Sarma’s aggressive posturing comes with significant political risks. BJP insiders acknowledge that he faces a strong challenger in Gaurav Gogoi, the newly appointed president of the Assam Congress, who is drawing on his late father Tarun Gogoi’s legacy and appealing to Assamese identity sentiments.
“Gaurav Gogoi is targeting the Ahom vote base and is trying to revive his father’s political capital,” said a senior BJP functionary. “The Assamese identity card is gaining traction, and the BJP is watching this closely.”
The BJP is also concerned about Congress inroads into the Bengali Hindu vote base, particularly in the Barak Valley. Many Bengali Hindus, insiders say, feel disillusioned by the unfulfilled promise of inclusion in the National Register of Citizens (NRC), once championed by the BJP.
Compounding the party’s challenges is the shifting allegiance of Muslim voters. In recent years, the community had drifted toward the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), but the tide may now be turning.
“The Congress only needs 30% of the Muslim vote to swing back in its favor, along with about 30% of the Hindu electorate moving away from the BJP,” another senior BJP leader observed. “If they can execute this realignment, the BJP will be in deep trouble in 2026.”
The Congress, buoyed by gains in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, is optimistic about rebuilding its traditional vote bank among both Bengali Hindus and Muslims. The appointment of Gaurav Gogoi as state unit chief has infused fresh energy into the party’s campaign, allowing it to capitalize on identity politics and revive the legacy of former CM Tarun Gogoi.
With just months to go before the 2026 Assembly polls, Assam is fast becoming a high-stakes battleground — one where identity, legacy, and ideology are poised to collide.
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