BJP faces multiple challenges in poll bound Assam, MLAs asked to counter narratives

While the Himanta Biswa Sarma-led government is being repeatedly slammed by the Opposition over Zubeen case, two strong protests, one by six ethnic tribes demanding fulfilment of BJP's promises for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status and another by tea garden workers for hike in daily wage in Assamese-dominated eastern and North Assam, has left the party worried.

Guwahati: Amid the growing criticism over the investigation into iconic singer Zubeen Garg's sudden death, ruling BJP in Assam is faced with other multiple challenges in the run upto Assembly elections—from confusion over its ties with ally United People's Party Liberal (UPPL), strong agitation by the ethnic communities and tea garden voters besides resignation of veteran leader Rajen Gohain.

While the Himanta Biswa Sarma-led government is being repeatedly slammed by the Opposition parties including the Congress over the Zubeen case, two strong protests, one by six ethnic tribes demanding fulfilment of BJP's promises for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status on October 8 and another by tea garden workers for hike in daily wage in Assamese-dominated eastern and North Assam, has left the party insiders worried.

The six ethnic communities including the large tea garden workers have been BJP's strong vote banks, particularly in eastern and North Assam, where Muslim votes are negligible. The anti-immigrant narrative created by BJP led the ethnic communities to vote for BJP in the elections since 2014.

BJP's inability to fulfill the promise of giving ST status to six more ethnic communities, Ahom, Moran, Mottok, Chutia, Koch Rajbongshi and the Adivasis (tea tribes) have angered the ethnic communities. BJP had promised ST status before the Lok Sabha polls since 2014 and ahead of Assembly polls in 2016 and 2021.

Cashing on the anti-immigrant sentiments among the ethnic communities, BJP had formed it's first government in Assam in 2016 and have set its target to retain power for the third straight term.

A party insider, however, said the demand for ST and wages, if not addressed in the next couple of months, may upset BJP's prospect among ethnic communities. They also want an early closure to Zubeen Garg case to avoid the public sentiments turning against BJP in 2026 polls.

Visibly worried over the strong protest for ST in Upper Assam's Tinsukia district on October 9, CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said his government will take a significant decision in the Assembly in November regarding recommending to the Centre for the ST status.

Another massive protest by the tea garden workers in Dibrugarh on October 13 for increasing daily wage to Rs. 551, also increased the unease within BJP camp.

Amid the fresh protests for STs, a veteran party leader and four-time MP, Rajen Gohain, who belongs to the Ahom community, resigned on October 9, alleging that BJP divided the politically influential Ahom community by carrying out delimitation. He said delimitation weakened the Ahoms, which enjoyed decisive power in at least 30 to 40 Assembly seats. Assam has 126 Assembly seats.

Lack of clarity over BJP's ties with UPPL, an ally in the present government, following the recent debacle in Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) elections have also raised worry within the party.

BJP welcomed the Bodoland People's Front (BPF) into the NDA by inducting an MLA as minister in Himanta Cabinet on Saturday but has not yet clarified about its future ties with UPPL, an opponent of BPF in Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR). BPF and UPPL are not willing to stay in the government together, although UPPL ministers has not yet resigned. Bodo votes are instrumental in at least 16 Assembly seats.

Faced with the challenges, the party organised a meeting of its MLAs and MPs recently, in which they were asked to work out booth level strategies to counter the narratives and meet the party's target to retain power for the third term in a row.