Rights of indigenous vital, says Sonowal

The BJP is upbeat about its chances of coming to power in Assam with the help of its alliance partners. 

Optimism in the saffron camp has doubled after the first phase of polling held on April 4. Deccan Herald’s Ratnadip Choudhury caught up with the BJP’s chief ministerial candidate in Assam Sarbananda Sonowal, who revealed how its call for identity politics has been a master stroke.

DH: The voters in Majuli have already locked your fate in the EVMs. By fielding you from Majuli, the BJP has tried to associate itself with Assam’s culture, history and religious belief. Thus, the emotive politics of the BJP in Assam has been able to set a wave of sorts. What has really changed politically since the 2014 polls where the BJP won seven of the 14 Lok Sabha seats in Assam?
Sarbananda Sonowal: People have got a feeling that unless the BJP comes to power, growth of Assam is impossible. They have lost trust in the Congress. They are very much upset. They don’t find any reason why the Congress should retain power because it has misused public money and has involved in rampant corruption. There is no optimism left with the Congress in Assam. As for Majuli, it is the most backward area of the state, an example of the Congress neglect. We want it to take the lead in formation of a developed Assam.

DH: You have been pushing the developmental agenda in Assam right from the campaigning of the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, but as the 2016 Assembly polls approached, the BJP has set the identity politics as your main agenda. Why is this shift?
SS: This is people’s democracy and people will have to decide what to do and what not to do. In last 15 years of the Congress rule, people have seen that the Congress has had no vision and no connection with the son of the soil. Now it is the age of new technology and young generation wants visible change. There are 26 lakh unemployed youths in Assam and not all can migrate for job. Job generation is the need of the hour. Thus, we are pushing developmental politics but that cannot happen unless the core issue of identity of the son of the soil is resolved. 

DH: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi claims it to be an election between him and PM Modi. How far is the Modi factor working in favour of the BJP?
SS: PM Modi is the heartthrob of younger generation. When he landed on campaign trails, a pro-BJP wave generated and it has changed the scenario in our favour. There is no dark spot in his governance; last 20 months of Modi at the Centre have been a model of good governance.

DH: What is BJP’s main agenda for Assam – illegal migrant, development or Modi wave?
SS: We cannot sideline the core issues of the state, there are several of them. People of Assam on one hand want development and good governance. At the same time, they want their identity and dignity to be protected. Illegal migrants are a threat to the identity of Assam. We will have to address the issues at one go. We will not shy away and thus we have made the identity issue as our main poll plank. 

DH: Is polarisation of Non-Muslim votes the only ploy for the BJP in Assam to come to power?
SS: In this political battle, our primary injective along with our allies is to uproot the unholy nexus of the Congress and the AIUDF. They are creating problem with indigenous people. We have to politically establish the right over the land for the indigenous people. Thus, it is not a question of Hindus and Muslims; it is the question of protection of our motherland. The Congress has patronised illegal migrant and it is the Congress that allowed Badruddin Ajmal and his party to grow in state politics. This combined force has already created a crisis in the state that the identity of indigenous people is at stake. It is the popular demand of the people of Assam to finish the Congress and AIUDF politically.