<p>CAA or no CAA? The debate is set to take the centre stage in the campaigns for Assembly elections in Assam as the opposition parties are banking on the controversial amendment to counter the ruling BJP and its claim of development since 2016.</p>.<p>In fact, the anti-CAA agitation, which turned violent in Assam in December 2019, prompted the opposition Congress to inch closer to Badruddin Ajmal-led All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), its rival since 2005, and stitch a grand alliance of seven parties ahead of polls. </p>.<p>The agitation also led to the birth of two new parties, Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) led by former general secretary of All Assam Students' Union, Lurinjyoti Gogoi, and Raijor Dal headed by anti-CAA activist, Akhil Gogoi. Both Lurin and Akhil led the anti-CAA agitation. Akhil was arrested amid the violent protest and is in judicial custody since then. The anti-CAA stand also led AJP and Raijor Dal to join hands for the polls. </p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/east-and-northeast/himanta-biswa-sarma-man-behind-lotus-bloom-in-assam-959459.html">Himanta Biswa Sarma: Man behind lotus bloom in Assam</a></strong></p>.<p>The two parties refused to join the grand alliance but CAA is their poll-plank against the BJP. The two parties, which are contesting in 68 and 20 seats respectively are focussing on the eastern and North Assam constituencies (Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Sivasagar, Jorhat, Golaghat, Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Sonitpur and Biswanath districts), where the Assamese sentiment is stronger. </p>.<p>Assam has 126 Assembly seats and the state will witness elections in three phases on March 27, April 1 and April 6. </p>.<p>Those opposing the CAA fear that the controversial amendment would reduce the indigenous people into minority as it seeks to give citizenship to a large number of non-Muslim migrants from neighbouring Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan till 2014. They demand that citizenship should be given, irrespective of religious consideration, based on the cut-off date of March 24, 1971, which was promised in the Assam Accord of 1985.</p>.<p>"Come what may, we will not allow CAA, when we come back to power," Congress leader, Rahul Gandhi announced while addressing a rally in Sivasagar on February 14. </p>.<p><strong>Damage control:</strong></p>.<p>The ruling BJP, on the other hand, claims that CAA is no longer a factor in the election. The party claims that people would vote for them again for the development work the BJP-led government has done since 2016. Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal says the land patta (land document) given to 3.65 lakh indigenous families and removal of encroachers (they suspect illegal migrants) from Kaziranga National park were major steps his government took to protect identity of the indigenous people. "We are committed for protection of identity, culture and language of the Assamese people," Prime Minister Modi said recently in two public meetings in Sivasagar and Dhekiajuli (Sonitpur district) in Assam. </p>.<p><strong>Read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/east-and-northeast/former-assam-cm-prafulla-mahanta-to-not-contest-polls-after-bjp-takes-away-his-seat-959894.html">Former Assam CM Prafulla Mahanta to not contest polls after BJP 'takes away' his seat</a></strong></p>.<p>When asked about possible impact of the CAA in the elections, BJP' strategist, Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday claimed instead of the CAA, voters are worried about the threat from 'Miyas' (the Bengali-speaking Muslims) and Ajmal. </p>.<p>As the anti-CAA agitation threatened to dampen BJP's prospect in the elections, the Sonowal government initiated compulsory study of Assamese language upto class X in all schools, except in the Bengali-dominated Barak Valley and in the Bodoland area; it exempted three autonomous councils set up under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution (Bodoland Territorial Council, the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council and the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council) from the purview of the CAA and formed three new autonomous councils for Koch Rajbongshis, Moran and Motor, communities whose support will be crucial in several constituencies. </p>.<p>The government also implemented two cash transfer schemes for tea garden workers and 22 lakh disadvantaged families, in what is seen as a counter strategy.</p>
<p>CAA or no CAA? The debate is set to take the centre stage in the campaigns for Assembly elections in Assam as the opposition parties are banking on the controversial amendment to counter the ruling BJP and its claim of development since 2016.</p>.<p>In fact, the anti-CAA agitation, which turned violent in Assam in December 2019, prompted the opposition Congress to inch closer to Badruddin Ajmal-led All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), its rival since 2005, and stitch a grand alliance of seven parties ahead of polls. </p>.<p>The agitation also led to the birth of two new parties, Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) led by former general secretary of All Assam Students' Union, Lurinjyoti Gogoi, and Raijor Dal headed by anti-CAA activist, Akhil Gogoi. Both Lurin and Akhil led the anti-CAA agitation. Akhil was arrested amid the violent protest and is in judicial custody since then. The anti-CAA stand also led AJP and Raijor Dal to join hands for the polls. </p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/east-and-northeast/himanta-biswa-sarma-man-behind-lotus-bloom-in-assam-959459.html">Himanta Biswa Sarma: Man behind lotus bloom in Assam</a></strong></p>.<p>The two parties refused to join the grand alliance but CAA is their poll-plank against the BJP. The two parties, which are contesting in 68 and 20 seats respectively are focussing on the eastern and North Assam constituencies (Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Sivasagar, Jorhat, Golaghat, Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Sonitpur and Biswanath districts), where the Assamese sentiment is stronger. </p>.<p>Assam has 126 Assembly seats and the state will witness elections in three phases on March 27, April 1 and April 6. </p>.<p>Those opposing the CAA fear that the controversial amendment would reduce the indigenous people into minority as it seeks to give citizenship to a large number of non-Muslim migrants from neighbouring Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan till 2014. They demand that citizenship should be given, irrespective of religious consideration, based on the cut-off date of March 24, 1971, which was promised in the Assam Accord of 1985.</p>.<p>"Come what may, we will not allow CAA, when we come back to power," Congress leader, Rahul Gandhi announced while addressing a rally in Sivasagar on February 14. </p>.<p><strong>Damage control:</strong></p>.<p>The ruling BJP, on the other hand, claims that CAA is no longer a factor in the election. The party claims that people would vote for them again for the development work the BJP-led government has done since 2016. Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal says the land patta (land document) given to 3.65 lakh indigenous families and removal of encroachers (they suspect illegal migrants) from Kaziranga National park were major steps his government took to protect identity of the indigenous people. "We are committed for protection of identity, culture and language of the Assamese people," Prime Minister Modi said recently in two public meetings in Sivasagar and Dhekiajuli (Sonitpur district) in Assam. </p>.<p><strong>Read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/east-and-northeast/former-assam-cm-prafulla-mahanta-to-not-contest-polls-after-bjp-takes-away-his-seat-959894.html">Former Assam CM Prafulla Mahanta to not contest polls after BJP 'takes away' his seat</a></strong></p>.<p>When asked about possible impact of the CAA in the elections, BJP' strategist, Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday claimed instead of the CAA, voters are worried about the threat from 'Miyas' (the Bengali-speaking Muslims) and Ajmal. </p>.<p>As the anti-CAA agitation threatened to dampen BJP's prospect in the elections, the Sonowal government initiated compulsory study of Assamese language upto class X in all schools, except in the Bengali-dominated Barak Valley and in the Bodoland area; it exempted three autonomous councils set up under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution (Bodoland Territorial Council, the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council and the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council) from the purview of the CAA and formed three new autonomous councils for Koch Rajbongshis, Moran and Motor, communities whose support will be crucial in several constituencies. </p>.<p>The government also implemented two cash transfer schemes for tea garden workers and 22 lakh disadvantaged families, in what is seen as a counter strategy.</p>