Asianet Newsable

Himanta Biswa Sarma to be Assam's new Chief Minister

Asianet Newsable English — Sun, 09 May 2021 13:38:38 +0530

Himanta Biswa Sarma will be the new Assam Chief Minister. He was unanimously elected as leader of the BJP legislature party during a meeting in Guwahati on Sunday.

Confirming the development, Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said: "BJP President JP Nadda has sent me and Arun Singh to felicitate and conduct this meet to choose the next chief minister for Assam. Sarbananda Sonowal and other leaders proposed a single name -- Himanata Biswa Sarma. I elect Himanata Biswa Sharma as the next CM for Assam."

Earlier in the day, former chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal met the Governor to submit his resignation.

In his last term, Sarma handled key portfolios like Health, Finance, Public Works Department and Education.

Sarma is credited with ensuring the BJP's return to power in the just-concluded assembly election. The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance secured 75 seats while the 'grand alliance' led by the Congress won just 50 seats in the elections to the 126-member assembly.

A former Congress heavyweight, Sarma had quit his ministerial post after party leader Rahul Gandhi reportedly did not make him the chief minister despite his claim of support from 52 legislators in July 2014.

Sarma joined the BJP a year before its historic victory in 2016, which brought an end to 15 years of Congress rule.

The BJP made him the convener of the BJP-led North-East Democratic Alliance, a coalition of non-Congress parties.

Over the years, Sarma is credited with establishing NDA's dominance in the once Congress-dominated northeastern region.

Assembly Election Results 2021 Live Updates: BJP wins Nandigram, but loses battle for West Bengal

Vipin Vijayan — Sun, 02 May 2021 19:00:55 +0530

The counting of votes polled in 822 assembly constituencies in Kerala, West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry continues amid tight Covid-19 guidelines.

Also unfolding will be results of bypolls in 4 parliamentary constituencies and 13 assembly constituencies across 13 states.

The counting of votes will decide the fate of four chief ministers -- West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

The special focus will be on West Bengal where the Bharatiya Janata Party fought an intense electoral battle against the Trinamool Congress with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP President JP Nadda and other top BJP leaders left no stone unturned to try and dislodge Mamata Banerjee from power.

Another intense battle was fought in Tamil Nadu where the AIADMK-BJP combine is squaring off against the DMK-Congress alliance. The spotlight will also be on actor-politician Kamal Haasan's Makkal Needhi Maiam performance.

Most exit polls have predicted the return of the Left Democratic Front government of Pinarayi Vijayan in Kerala with the Congress in the runners-up position.

As for Assam, Sarbananda Sonowal will hope that Prime Minister Modi's campaign blitz in the state would get him back to power in the state. The Congress, on the other hand, had relied on its local leadership to carry the bulk of its campaigning.

The BJP will be hoping to ride to power in Puducherry with the AIADMK while the Congress-DMK alliance is looking for retribution for the downfall of their government just ahead of the election.

Catch all the latest updates on Asianet Newsable.

Election Commission bans victory processions on May 2 counting day

Asianet Newsable English — Tue, 27 Apr 2021 10:34:27 +0530

Election Commission has banned all victory processions on or after the counting of votes on May 2.

The decision comes a day after the Madras High Court took the Election Commission to task while hearing a suo motu case concerning the management of the Covid situation in Tamil Nadu.

The bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice S Ramamoorthy observed that the Election Commission has abdicated its responsibility and threatened to stop counting on May 2 if the poll body does not put in place a proper plan to ensure adherence to Covid-19 protocol.

Observing that Election Commission officers should be booked on murder charges, Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee had said, "Your institution is singularly responsible for the situation today."

The high court lamented the inaction by Election Commission against erring political parties despite its orders.

Assam Election Results 2021: BJP will form govt, says Sarbananda Sonowal; NDA crosses majority mark

Team Newsable — Sun, 02 May 2021 13:00:44 +0530

The majority mark in Assam is 64. The BJP is looking to create history by becoming the only non-Congress government to win consecutive terms.

However, this election was very different from the other states as Assam was the only place where it was fighting to retain power for the saffron party.

Speaking to ANI, Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal said, "People have given us their blessings. It is clear that our government will be formed. We will form the government with AGP and UPPL. We will have to wait till the last vote is counted. The trend is in our favour."

As per the trends, it is clear that Bharatiya Janata Party will form the government in Assam: Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal#Assam pic.twitter.com/EuxHnucmtD

— ANI (@ANI) May 2, 2021

Assembly Speaker Hitendra Nath Goswami of the BJP is trailing Congress nominee Rana Goswami in Jorhat.

BPF leaders and Ministers Pramila Rani Brahma and Chandra Brahma trailing from Kokrajhar East and Sidli constituencies to UPPL's Lawrense Islary and Joyanta Basumatary, respectively.

Pramila Rani Brahma is Assam's Social Welfare Minister seeks re-election from the same constituency of Kokrajhar East. NOt just her Assam Tourism Minister Chandan Brahma, too, is seeking re-election.

EXCLUSIVE: 'Assam does not need a weak CM who is remote-controlled'

Asianet Newsable English — Wed, 07 Apr 2021 14:02:19 +0530

The votes are in, and now the wait begins for May 2, when the Electronic Voting Machines will reveal the electorate's mood.

In Assam, the Congress-led Mahajot alliance is confident of removing the Sarbananda Sonowal-led BJP government.

Asianet Newsable's Yacoob caught up with Congress leader and two-term parliamentarian Gaurav Gogoi to understand the mood in the party camp. Here are excerpts of that interview

How confident are you about Congress's victory in Assam? Surveys have indicated a clear win for BJP?

I am very confident about winning the Assam 2021 election. I think the results of phase one of the seats will surprise everyone. We are going to perform much better than our own internal projections. And in phase two and three, we have matched our expectations. Therefore, we are very confident that our grand alliance will achieve 101 seats. We are going to be very close to that target.

How significantly is Congress feeling the absence of Tarun Gogoi in this election?

Of course, it has been very difficult emotionally to travel the length and breadth and hear people say such positive things about him. But at the same time, we feel guided by his soul. We feel he is still amongst us, pushing us to fight harder and work harder. People have also responded tremendously with a lot of goodwill and affection. He was very much the part of the conversation among the people before they go for voting. Everybody has been very kind in their words, and they still remember his 15-year Congress government's positive achievements.

Prime Minister Modi and Amit Shah addressed several campaign rallies in Assam. Why did the top-most leaders of the Congress party not campaign with as much force?

I see a vast difference between the campaign between Congress and the BJP. BJP has done only big rallies where either their state leaders or their national leaders have come, given a speech and then flown back. But the Congress campaign has been more people-centric. It has been more interactive and has been more modern. We launched two campaigns, one in February and another in March. We had state leaders addressing big rallies and holding several small town-hall interactions with students, shopkeepers and traders. We actually had a dialogue with them, and senior-most state leaders did this.

Similarly, both Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, instead of just speaking at rallies, interacted with college students. Priyanka Gandhi visited tea garden worker's house and got to know their plight. I feel that in this modern era of social media where everybody can watch the movement of our leaders and can get a 24/7 update on our campaign, Congress brought a sense of freshness, newness and public participation, which is completely missing in the BJP.

How big an issue was CAA among the local population? How did Congress outline its position to the people on the matter?

CAA has taken a deep root in the heart, mind and psyche of the Assamese society. People feel that if the BJP successfully implements CAA, they will further bring more such legislation that attacks the Assamese cultural values of harmony and peaceful co-existence, put Assam in the backburner, and put the Nagpur RSS ideology in the front.

People have seen how Congress, especially Rahul Gandhi -- whether it is 2019 Lok Sabha elections or even now in Assam 2021 election -- has been at the forefront, saying that the party will abide by the 'wishes' and 'will' of the people of Assam and oppose CAA in Assam.

And it is mentioned among the five top guarantees in our manifesto that CAA will be removed. But after our government is formed, we see that BJP's attack on federalism and constitutional values will be repealed by our government. The central government cannot impose its will on the state government without taking the state's people along.

Last time the AIUDF contested nearly 80 seats. This time they are an ally and are only contesting about 30 seats. Has this given a wider playing field for Congress to revive its position?

We are very grateful to all the parties that are part of the grand alliance, including the AIUDF, BPF, the Anchalik Gana Morcha, the parties that belong to the Left front, RJD and other parties who have supported us but not contested any seats. We feel that this is a great alliance, and we are taking this alliance forward from the perspective of any one party. We have collectively come together to ensure that CAA is defeated. We have been formed on an anti-CAA platform against BJP's misrule and BJP's alliance, which has only focused on strengthening and enriching society's already wealthier section.

The kind of inequality BJP and its allies have created has to come to an end. So the alliance (Mahajot) has formed with a larger interest of protecting Assam economically, culturally and socially. It is not one individual party's perspective.

What were the issues that your campaign primarily focussed on?

In February, all our state leaders undertook a month-long yatra with the slogan 'come, let's save Assam' (Aayiye Assam Bachao). We travelled the length and breadth in buses and stayed in people's homes. And the people of Assam told us the issues that are in their heart and mind -- the Citizenship Amendments Act, rising unemployment problem, the crushing rate of inflation, the rising cost of homes, electricity cost, the plight of tea garden workers who were promised the sky by the BJP but got nothing in the end.

And that is how we came up with our 'five guarantees' (promises)'. When our grand alliance comes to power, we will ensure that CAA is not implemented and ensure women in the household get financial support to run their homes. 200 units of electricity will be waived off so that the burden of inflation is reduced. Five lakh jobs would be created in the public sector in addition to what we create in the private sector, and tea garden workers will be given a wage of Rs 365 per day. That is our Congress party's core agenda in this election.

Three phases of voting have concluded. What is the sentiment that you are picking from the ground?

There is an undercurrent in favour of the Congress party and the Mahajot. People see freshness in its leadership. Despite Tarun Gogoi's absence, people have faith in the collective experience of the Congress party and local leadership. People are extremely disappointed by the leadership of the current chief minister. Actually, he (Sonowal) does not have power in his hand. He has lost power to people sitting in Nagpur (RSS headquarters) and Delhi (central BJP leadership). Even in Assam, the decisions are often overturned by ministers in their own cabinet. Never in history we have had such a weak chief minister.

What does a high turnout of voters in Assam signify?

Young people have come out and rejected the politics of polarisation and hate. They have voted for politics of accountability, politics that promises jobs, politics that talks about real issues affecting Assam and leadership that is not remote-controlled by people sitting in other parts of the country.

Does the party regret letting Himanta Biswas Sarma leave? He did draw a massive crowd at his roadshows and is today counted as a strong leader in the state?

Himanta Biswas Sarma is a migratory politician, and the day BJP loses power, the day he is unable to see his dream of becoming chief minister, he will migrate again. So we are not concerned because migratory politicians migrate everywhere and sometimes end up flying back home.

The BJP has accused Congress of running a polarised campaign, especially since it joined hands with the AIUDF. How have you countered this allegation?

BJP has always made such allegations against the Congress party. But it is the Congress party, by and large, which brought security to Assam. It the Congress party that initiated NRC, which looks into the issue of illegal immigration. The Congress party, which under the leadership of Tarun Gogoi (former CM), created a modern Guwahati and upgraded the infrastructure health and education for the public. But the BJP has nothing except for rhetoric and allegations. They themselves fail to answer why unemployment is higher than five years ago. The state's GDP is lower than five years ago. No major investments have come in the last five years.

Badruddin Ajmal has said that he will support a Congress chief minister if the alliance secures a majority. Who do you think will be the chief minister in that scenario?

We are grateful to the Mahajot partners for accepting that the chief minister will be from the Congress party. There will be no deputy chief minister. Right now, we are focused on ensuring that our five guarantees are implemented. The Congress party in Delhi (central leaders) and the people of Assam will decide who will be the next chief minister.

There was a major furore over an AIUDF leader's 'daadi, topi, lungiwallah government' remark. How will Congress keep AIUDF leaders from making such statements? Don't such remarks play to the strength of the BJP?

I sense that remarks have been edited to suit the narrative of the BJP. The speech indicated that all sections of people have a clear say in the future Mahajot government. And everybody's concerns will be represented, and that essentially what our Constitution says that we will not discriminate based on religion or somebody's attire or somebody's choice of food. But the BJP has edited this remark to suit their narrative. We are very confident the Congress will the largest party (win more seats) and will have its own chief minister. Congress will emulate the path set out by its former chief minister Tarun Gogoi. People of Assam know that what BJP is up to, and they will not fall for such politics.

Voting amid pandemic: Here's how Election Commission pulled it off

Vipin Vijayan — Tue, 06 Apr 2021 11:51:29 +0530

The Election Commission had made elaborate arrangements to ensure the smooth progress of voting in 4 states and the Union Territory of Puducherry with adequate emphasis on maintaining Covid-appropriate behaviour. Let's take a look.

Voting is underway in states of Kerala, West Bengal, Assam and Tamil Nadu, and in the Union Territory of Puducherry amid the second wave of Coronavirus sweeping through the country.

(Above) Thermal checking being done at 111 (Purba Tapna Primary School) booth under Uluberia Dakshin assembly constituency of Howrah district, West Bengal.

Photograph of polling at a booth in Wayanad district, Kerala.

Thermal checking is being done at 139-Canning Purba assembly constituency of South 24 Parganas district, West Bengal.

Social distancing witnessed at the Mahe constituency in Puducherry. Mahe region is a small enclave of the UT, which is geographically situated in the Kannur district, Kerala on the Arabian Sea coast.

An elderly voter is being assisted to wear mask to maintain Covid-19 protocol at Polling Station No 17 (Kalikapur Adaitya F P School) of Joynagar (SC) assembly constituency of South 24 Parganas district, West Bengal.

ITBP soldier helps a senior citizen in Kulpi, Sundarbans during the third phase of West Bengal assembly polls.

Thermal check being conducted during the Phase III assembly elections in 42-LAC under Bajali district in Assam.

92-year-old voter Shri Rabha being felicitated in Dudhnoi polling station in Assam. Shri Rabha has voted in every election since independence.

Polling scene from constituency of Yanam, an enclave of the UT of Puducherry, which is geographically located in the East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh. Note the squirrel, which is the election mascot of Puducherry.

Sanitization being done at Bharatgarh Primary School under 128-Basanti Assembly Constituency of South 24 -Parganas District, West Bengal

A glimpse of the ongoing poll at the 5 Constituencies in the Karaikal district.

Assam Election Result 2021: BJP and allies certain of retaining power, Congress of ousting the alliance

Team Newsable — Sun, 02 May 2021 09:43:21 +0530

According to Election Commission trends, Congress and it is ally Bodoland People's Front are leading in two and one seats respectively. It is also shown that the BJP and its allies Asom Gana Parishad, United People’s Party Liberal and Rabha Joutha Mancha is certain of holding power with more than 80 seats.

If they do, it will be the first example of a non-Congress party to ensure a second succeeding term in Assam.

The Congress had ruled for three terms from 2001 to 2016 under former Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi.

The Congress too is sure of removing the BJP-led alliance by winning at least 75 seats.

Its allies in the Mahajot include the All India United Democratic Front, Bodoland People’s Front, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Communist Party of India and and Rashtriya Janata Dal.

EC bars Himanta Biswa Sarma from campaigning for 48 hours

Asianet Newsable English — Fri, 02 Apr 2021 21:46:28 +0530

The Election Commission has barred Assam Bharatiya Janata Party leader Himanta Biswa Sarma from campaigning for 48 hours with immediate effect for his remarks against Bodoland People's Front leader Hagrama Mohilary.

Bodoland People's Front is an ally of the Congress in Assam.

The Election Commission found substance in the Congress party's complaint against Sarma for openly threatened Hagrama Mohilary of sending him to jail by misusing a central agency.

As per the full transcript of Sarma's statement sent across by Assam's chief electoral officer, he had stated: "If Hagrama does extremism with Batha he will go to jail. If Hagrama encourages Batha, he will go to jail. Already got a lot of evidence... the case is being given to NIA. The recovery of arms at Kokrajhar in a car, that case is being given to NIA. Nobody will be allowed to do unrest in BTR, even if he is Hagrama or anyone. This will not be tolerated. We are not afraid of Batha. I am making it dear. There will be no bomb in BTR, there will be no firearms in BTR. These arms recovery cases will be counted one by one after the election... We will not allow... unrest in Bodoland... this is being enquired by the NIA. I know many things... and in whose investigation they (Batha) are going (to the jungle) have not the people of Assam summed up? Those who are living in distress will only make people suffer, will someone who is happy make others unhappy".

The third and final phase of elections for the 126-member Assam Assembly will be held on April 6. The votes will be counted on May 2.

Congratulatory messages pour in for CM Sarbanand Sonwal as BJP leads in Assam

Team Newsable — Sun, 02 May 2021 18:13:41 +0530

As predicted by exit polls, trends till late afternoon on May 2 have given the BJP- led NDA in Assam high hopes for another term in the state. At around 4 pm, the BJP alliance had a lead in 76 assembly seats, while Congress' alliance was ahead in 44 places.

While BJP workers were seen distributing sweets as a celebration, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also congratulated Assam's Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for their great performance in the northeastern state.

The pro-people policies of Shri @narendramodi led Govt & the state Govt under @sarbanandsonwal have once again helped the BJP in winning assembly elections in Assam. Congratulations to PM Modi, CM Sonowal, Adhyaksh Shri @JPNadda & karyakartas on BJP’s impressive victory in Assam.

— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) May 2, 2021

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also congratulated CM Sonowal.

"Congratulations Sarbanand Sonwal on being blessed by the people of Assam. Carrying forward the people-centric policies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP with JP Nadda leading from the front, you have well served the state. Wishing FM Himanta Biswa Sarma for his energetic role," she tweeted.

Congratulations @sarbanandsonwal on being blessed by the people of Assam. Carrying forward people centric policies of @PMOIndia & @BJP4India with @JPNadda leading from the front, you have well served the state. Wishing FM @himantabiswa for his energetic role. @BJP4Assam

— Nirmala Sitharaman (@nsitharaman) May 2, 2021

BJP's National Vice President Baijayant Jay Panda, who is also the party in charge in Assam, tweeted asking workers to refrain from any crowded celebration.

@BJP4India won Jalukbari LAC-by a margin of 1,01,911 votes. It would be my Privilege to represent the constituency for 5th consecutive term. My gratitude to the people of Jalukbari,Honble PM @narendramodi , HM @AmitShah and national president @JPNadda JAI AAI ASOM,JAI HIND

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) May 2, 2021

Assam's Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonwal, who is leading from his constituency, Majuli said, "People have blessed us. We can say for sure that the BJP will form government in Assam. We are coming back to power with our partners AGP and UPPL," Sonowal told reporters.

If the BJP alliance does return to power, it will be the first non-Congress government in Assam that has been voted for a consecutive second term.

EVM in Assam BJP leader's car: EC orders repolling, but denies EVM was tampered with

Asianet Newsable English — Fri, 02 Apr 2021 13:53:28 +0530

Election Commission of India has ordered repolling at booth number 149 (Indira MV School) of Ratabari (SC) assembly constituency in Assam after scrutinising the sequence of events leading to the recovery of the voting machine from a vehicle owned by BJP leader Krishnendu Paul's wife.

Krishnendu is the BJP candidate from the neighbouring Patharkandi assembly constituency.

The election body also placed under suspension the Presiding Officer and three other officials for shifting the voting machine to another vehicle without checking its antecedents after their vehicle in which escorting the EVM to Karimganj after the polling got over at 6 pm on April 1, broke down.

Breaking : Situation tense after EVMs found in Patharkandi BJP candidate Krishnendu Paul’s car. pic.twitter.com/qeo7G434Eb

— atanu bhuyan (@atanubhuyan) April 1, 2021

The Election Commission, however, denied allegations that the EVMs had been tampered with.

In its report on the incident, the EC noted that upon examination, the "polled EVM comprising the balloting unit, control unit and voter-verifiable paper audit trail were found to be with seal intact without any damage whatsoever".

The poll body further said that even though the EVM had not been tampered with, as a precaution, repolling will be held at the booth.

How Passport And Pakistan Debate Is Shaping Assam Elections Ahead Of Voting Day

Divya Danu — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 20:25:10 +0530

The Assam Assembly election has seen many issues in the past, from jobs and roads to welfare schemes. But this time, the debate has taken a different turn. Passports have become a major political topic. The row began when Himanta Biswa Sarma, a senior leader of the BJP, raised questions about Gaurav Gogoi, who is the Assam Congress president and a Member of Parliament.

Sarma alleged that Gogoi had surrendered his minor son's Indian passport in 2022 in favour of a British passport. This was part of a larger attack where Sarma questioned Gogoi's loyalty to India.

The issue quickly turned into a political battle just days before voting.

Congress hits back with counter allegations

The Congress party did not stay silent. Its spokesperson Pawan Khera held a press conference and made serious allegations against Sarma’s wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sharma.

Khera claimed that she holds three passports from different countries, including the UAE, Egypt, and Antigua and Barbuda. He also alleged that she owns properties in Dubai that were not mentioned in Sarma’s election affidavit.

Shocking allegations have come out related to Himanta Biswa Sarma. Holding multiple passports and failure to disclose properties is a grave and criminal offence. How much money have they sent from Assam to their bank accounts abroad ? More investigation is required. Himanta Biswa…

— Gaurav Gogoi (@GauravGogoiAsm) April 5, 2026

LIVE: Congress party briefing by Shri @Pawankhera at AICC Office, New Delhi. https://t.co/0wyr5kJLsP

— Congress (@INCIndia) April 5, 2026

Himanta Biswa Sarma should answer the below questions.1) Does the wife of Himanta Sarma hold a Golden visa for Dubai ? 2) Is the Golden visa on an Indian passport ?3) Does any family member of Himanta Biswa Sarma own properties in Dubai ?4) Does any family member of…

— Gaurav Gogoi (@GauravGogoiAsm) April 6, 2026

These claims added fuel to the political fight, making passports the centre of the debate.

Strong denial and legal action from BJP side

Sarma and his wife strongly denied all the allegations. They called the claims false and politically motivated.

Busting another lie of #CongFakeAICampaign.The Dubai property title deeds have also turned out to be FAKE with glaring inconsistencies and no authentic record.You can also find out at: https://t.co/qvzLpoAE3eAll of their lies are THUS BUSTED.Legal action will follow. pic.twitter.com/7Pm2O5gUjL

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) April 6, 2026

Riniki Bhuyan Sharma said the accusations were based on fake images and 'photoshopped' documents. She also said that India does not allow dual citizenship, making the claim of multiple passports unrealistic.

I’ll save you the suspense and answer these laughable questions myself, @GauravGogoiAsm.Here it is: Neither I, nor my children, nor my husband have any business interests or assets in Dubai or anywhere outside India.Now your turn. Can you disclose whether your wife has or has… https://t.co/1R364UxzOX

— Riniki Bhuyan Sharma (@rinikibsharma) April 6, 2026

She has filed an FIR against Khera and asked authorities to investigate the matter properly. She also demanded strict action, saying such allegations should not be taken lightly.

Sarma also announced that he and his wife would file both criminal and civil defamation cases against Khera within 48 hours.

Police action and rising tension

The controversy has already led to police action. Assam Police reportedly reached Khera’s residence in Delhi after the FIR was filed.

This has increased the political tension ahead of voting. The state is set to vote on April 9, and the results will be declared on May 4.

With only days left, both parties are trying to shape public opinion.

Why passports matter in Assam politics

The passport issue is not just about documents. It is linked to identity, which has been a sensitive topic in Assam for many years.

In 2019, Assam carried out the NRC (National Register of Citizens) exercise to identify genuine Indian citizens. This made questions about citizenship and identity even more important in the state.

By raising passport issues, both BJP and Congress are trying to question each other’s loyalty and connection to India.

Pakistan angle adds to the controversy

Sarma has also tried to link Gogoi to Pakistan. He claimed that Pakistani media was showing interest in Assam elections and supporting Gogoi. He used this to suggest a “Pakistan connection”. He also mentioned Gogoi’s past visit to Pakistan and his wife’s work there.

We have clear evidence that a Pakistan backed Social media group has contributed to #CONGFakeAICampaign. Last year we had done an expose as to how Pakistani Facebook accounts were being deployed in Assam Elections. pic.twitter.com/SOSl2bFkf7

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) April 6, 2026

Guwahati, Assam: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma says, "Another significant aspect of the whole scenario is the Pakistani angle. We will show you on the website that all these false documents and false data were drawn from a Pakistani social media group. This means that talk… pic.twitter.com/JhjKcDUe5C

— IANS (@ians_india) April 6, 2026

Congress has denied these claims and accused Sarma of spreading false information.

Congress questions BJP’s stand

Congress leaders have also questioned Sarma’s political stance. They pointed out that he often speaks strongly against Muslims but his wife is accused of holding passports from Muslim-majority countries.

Through this, Congress is trying to highlight what it calls a contradiction in BJP’s politics.

Role of voter groups and caste equations

Political experts say this controversy is also linked to voter groups in Assam. Sarma belongs to the Assamese Brahmin community and has strong support in Upper Assam. This region has a large number of Ahom voters. Gaurav Gogoi is also from the Ahom community. Congress is trying to bring together Ahom votes through alliances with leaders like Akhil Gogoi and Lurinjyoti Gogoi.

By questioning Gogoi’s identity, BJP may be trying to weaken his support among these voters.

Upper Assam vs Lower Assam politics

Assam’s politics is often divided between Upper Assam and Lower Assam.

Upper Assam has been a strong area for BJP in recent years. Lower Assam, which has a larger Muslim population, has traditionally supported Congress and AIUDF.

The passport and identity debate fits into this larger political picture, where both sides are trying to gain advantage in different regions.

Shift from development to identity politics

Experts say that the election debate has shifted away from development issues. Instead of talking about jobs, roads, or welfare schemes, the focus is now on identity, nationality, and foreign links.

This shift shows how powerful identity politics can be in elections, especially in a state like Assam.

As voting day approaches, it is not clear how much this controversy will influence voters. Some may see it as an important issue related to national identity. Others may view it as political distraction from real problems.

The final result will show whether this strategy works for any party.

The passport controversy in Assam is not just about documents. It reflects deeper political strategies and long-standing concerns about identity. Both BJP and Congress are using the issue to question each other and win voter support.

As the April 9 election nears, the debate shows how personal allegations and identity questions can shape political narratives in India.

(With inputs from agencies)

Infected with Covid-19, but want to vote? Here's how

Vipin Vijayan — Tue, 06 Apr 2021 10:19:40 +0530

If you are a Covid-infected person undergoing home isolation in one of the four states or Union territory, here is how you can exercise your mandate.

According to Election Commission guidelines, COVID-19-positive patients can go to the polling booth to vote between 6 pm and 7 pm, provided they have not applied for a postal ballot.

Thermal checking of voters will be done at the polling station location/polling station's entry point, either by polling staff or Para Medical staff or Asha worker.

If the temperature is above the guidelines of the Union health ministry at first reading, then it will be checked twice. If the temperature remains above normal, then the elector shall be provided with a token and asked to come for voting during the last hour of the voting.

At the last hour of the poll, Covid patients will be able to vote while strictly following the related preventive measures.

Those who are Covid-19 infected and the polling officers will have to wear PPEs when the person votes.

Exit Poll Results 2021: BJP set to retain power in Assam, say poll pundits

Team Newsable — Thu, 29 Apr 2021 22:38:56 +0530

Every major news network has come up with its projection on who will emerge victorious in the Assam 2021 Assembly elections.

Before the votes are counted on May 2, the pollsters are back in business. The exit polls were released at around 7 pm Thursday after the polling for the eighth phase of West Bengal elections concluded.

The much-awaited exit poll results predict that the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) is all set to retain power in Assam where it won for the first time in 2016.

However, the Times Now-CVoter opinion poll said that the state is set to witness a close fight between the NDA and UPA, with the BJP-led alliance winning by a thin margin.

We have compiled a poll of polls for you to help you understand the popular choice in the Assam 2021 Assembly election.

Other observation made by pollsters:

In Assam, the India Today-Axis My India voter survey has predicted a return to power for the BJP with 75-80 seats.

NDTV's poll of exit polls: The BJP is expected to retain power with 76 of 126 seats. The Congress is likely to win 49 seats, predicts the poll of exit polls.

NOTE: Asianet News humbly requests everyone to wear masks, sanitize, maintain social distancing and get vaccinated as soon as eligible. Together we can and will break the chain #ANCares #IndiaFightsCorona

Assembly election 2021: High voter turnout recorded in all states as polling ends; prominent faces vote

Team Newsable — Tue, 06 Apr 2021 18:37:42 +0530

Voting was witnessed in more than 750 constituencies spread across four states and one union territory on Tuesday, sealing the fate of the candidates who are locked in direct or triangular contests from their respective seats.

At 6 pm, the polling percentage recorded in the following states is — Assam (78.94%), Kerala (69.95%), Tamil Nadu (65.08%), West Bengal (77.68%), and Puducherry (77.90%).

Despite the rising temperatures, long queues were seen in various constituencies in Assam, Kerala and Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.

First-time voters in all the four states displayed their enthusiasm by queuing up in large numbers before polling stations and even flaunted their inked fingers after voting proudly. The polling has largely been peaceful across the four states and scores of senior leaders and celebrities came out to vote during early hours.

However, in Bengal, the Election Commission suspended a sector officer after three EVMs and four VVPAT machines were found at TMC leader Goutam Ghosh’s residence. Meanwhile, the TMC has accused BJP workers of chasing and hurting party leader Sujata Mondal near a polling booth and urged the EC to take cognisance of the issue.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing a rally in Cooch Behar on Tuesday, attacked Mamata Banerjee saying she lost the election the day she did ‘Khela’ in Nandigram. Mamata, on the other hand, said the BJP workers were forcibly occupying polling booths and attacking TMC activists.

WB, Assam election 2021: 8.84% in Assam and 7.72% voter turnout recorded in West Bengal till 9 am

Team Newsable — Sat, 27 Mar 2021 09:40:14 +0530

After days of high-octane campaigns and a series of lucrative poll promises by contesting parties, the first phase of elections in West Bengal and Assam got underway Saturday.

8.84% and 7.72% voter turnout recorded till 9 am, in the first phase of polling in Assam and West Bengal Assembly elections, respectively, said Election Commission of India.

In Assam, 47 Assembly seats are going to polls, with 264 candidates in the fray. Over 8 lakh are eligible to vote. Some of the prominent faces are Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowol, state Congress chief Ripun Bora and Raijor Dal’s Akhil Gogoi.

Voting is being held today in 30 of Bengal’s 294 Assembly seats. There are 191 candidates in the fray, and over 73 lakh voters are on the rolls to exercise their franchise. The prominent candidates include BJP district president Sukhamoy Satpati, actress June Maliah, four-time Congress MLA from Baghmundi Nepal Mahato and Sanjukta Morcha’s Susanta Ghosh.

In West Bengal, polling is being held amid tight security with the Election Commission deploying around 730 companies of central forces, guarding 10,288 polling booths housed in 7,061 premises. Besides, 22,092 state police personnel have also been deployed at strategic locations.

As Assam went to polls, PM Narendra Modi tweeted, “The first phase of elections began in Assam. Urging those eligible to vote in record numbers. I particularly call upon my young friends to vote.”

The first phase of elections begin in Assam. Urging those eligible to vote in record numbers. I particularly call upon my young friends to vote.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 27, 2021

As the first phase of Assembly elections got underway in West Bengal, PM Modi on Saturday morning requested all the voters in the seats polling today to exercise their franchise in record numbers.

Today, Phase 1 of the West Bengal Assembly elections begin. I would request all those who are voters in the seats polling today to exercise their franchise in record numbers.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 27, 2021

Assam: EC suspends 4 poll officials after EVM found in BJP MLA's car, orders repolling at Ratabari station

Team Newsable — Fri, 02 Apr 2021 13:21:51 +0530

The Election Commission of India has suspended four polling officials deputed in Assam’s Karimganj after they were found transporting an EVM, a vehicle belonging to BJP MLA Krishnendu Paul. The poll panel has also ordered repolling in the booth, and an FIR is likely to be filed in the case.

The poll body also issued a factual report on the incident. “The Polling party of 149-Indira MV School of LAC 1 Ratabari (SC) met with an unfortunate incident on April 1, 2021. The polling party comprised a Presiding Officer and 3 polling personnel. They were accompanied by police personnel comprising a constable and a homeguard,” the EC said.

The Election Commission had initiated disciplinary action against the polling officials. The preliminary report sent by the District Election Officer said the polling party was “initially unaware that the vehicle in which they were travelling belonged to the BJP MLA”.

In the letter, the EC further said, “At about 9:20 pm, polling party hailed a passing vehicle & boarded it along with their EVM & other things without checking ownership of the vehicle. As reported by them, they moved towards Karimganj & as they reached Kanaishil, Karimganj at 11:00 pm, they had to slow down in traffic. As they slowed down, they were surrounded by a mob of about 50 people which started pelting stones at them. The mob also started abusing them and did not allow the vehicle to pass.”

“When they asked the leader of mob, he replied that it was vehicle of Krishnendu Paul, a contesting candidate of Patharkandi & he levelled allegations that EVM was being taken to be tampered with. They realised that something was amiss and alerted the Sector Officer. However, a larger crowd had gathered by then and they were attacked and held hostage by a mob along with the EVM in the vehicle at 9:45 pm alleging that the EVM was being taken to be tampered with,” the letter read.

“On examination, the polled EVM comprising of BU, CU and VVPAT was found to be with its seal intact without any damage whatsoever. All the items have been deposited in the strong room.”

“The Presiding Officer was issued show-cause notice for violation of transport protocol. PO & 3 other officials placed under suspension. Although EVM’s seals were found intact it has been decided to do a re-poll at No 149- Indira MV School of LAC 1 Ratabari(SC),” it said.

A video of the incident was widely circulated on Twitter, with several Congress leaders sharing it. In the 45-second clip, EVMs can be seen inside a white coloured jeep. A man who is not in the frame can be heard saying that the vehicle belongs to Paul. The Congress party has threatened to boycott the elections if the “open loot and rigging of EVMs” does not stop immediately.

Assembly Elections 2021: Second phase of voting gets underway in Assam, West Bengal

Team Newsable — Thu, 01 Apr 2021 09:44:24 +0530

The voting for the second phase of the Assam and West Bengal Assembly Elections began on Thursday morning amid tight security and all Covid-19 protocols.

In Assam, men, women and the first-time voters in large numbers queued up in front of the polling stations well before the voting for 39 of the total of 126 assembly seats opened at 7 a.m.

Polling began at 7 am, including the high-profile Nandigram seat, in the second phase of the West Bengal assembly elections amid tight security.

However, incidents of violence were reported in some areas as the house of a TMC booth agent was allegedly ransacked, another was ‘forced to return home’, a Trinamool worked was reportedly hacked to death in West Midnapore and polling agents were heckled in booth number 14 of Nandigram.

Voting is underway with strict adherence to Covid-19 protocols in nine seats each in Purba and Paschim Medinipur districts, eight in Bankura and four in South 24 Parganas.

Long queues were seen outside polling stations, where voting will continue till 6.30 pm. More than 75 lakh voters will decide the fate of 191 candidates in 30 constituencies, as eyes are set on Nandigram where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is contesting against her former lieutenant and BJP candidate Suvendu Adhikari.

On the other hand, in Assam, 27 constituencies are going to polls today and have an electorate between 1.5 and 2 lakh.

On Thursday, the electoral fate of several Assam Ministers including Fisheries, Excise, Environment and Forest Minister Parimal Suklabaidya, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Piyush Hazarika, state Irrigation Minister Bhabesh Kalita and Deputy Speaker Aminul Haque Laskar will be sealed.

The polling would continue till 6 pm without any break in 13 districts.

PM Modi tears into Congress at Kokrajhar, ‘Assam will show red card to Opposition, trust NDA for development’

Team Newsable — Thu, 01 Apr 2021 12:51:30 +0530

Guwahati: Ahead of the third and last phase of assembly elections in Assam, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday expressed confidence in the party's victory and said that people trust the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) for the development, peace and security of the state.

While addressing a public rally in Assam's Kokrajhar, PM Modi attacked the Congress-AIUDF alliance saying that this is an election between the 'maha jhooth' of Mahajot and 'maha vikas' of the double engine.

The people of Assam will show the Congress-led alliance a 'red card', Prime Minister Narendra Modi said at an election rally on Thursday as he launched an attack on the Opposition.

PM Modi said, “Football is popular among youth in Assam. If I've to speak in their language, I would say that the people have yet again shown a red card to the Congress and its Mahajot.”

The Prime Minister expressed confidence that the NDA will form the government in Assam and said people have stamped the victory in the first phase of polling.

"With the mantra of 'sabka saath sabka vikas sabka vishwas', the NDA government is working here for your welfare. People of Assam have given blessings to NDA in the first phase of polling. In the first phase, Assam has put a stamp on the grand victory of NDA," the Prime Minister said, seeking a second term for the BJP-led government. The state is witnessing polling in the second phase today.

Attacking his main opponent in the state over a common poll promise, PM Modi said, "Congress never even asked colleagues working in the tea gardens. It is the NDA government that tried to address every concern of the workers working there."

The three-phase assembly elections in Assam is underway. The polling for the first phase was held on March 27 while the second phase voting was done on April 1. The third and final phase will be held on April 6 and the counting of votes will take place on May 2.

Assam Election Results 2021: Early trends show BJP leads over the Congress

Team Newsable — Sun, 02 May 2021 09:06:30 +0530

The early trends shows BJP Leads in Dispur. BJP leading in Assam's capital seat, Dispur.

Atul Borah had contested from Dispur on a BJP ticket. As per initial trends from North East, the BJP-led alliance, UPA and Others are leading in 17, 10 and 4 seats respectively.

Amid complex arrangements of Covid-19 precautions, counting of votes begins in Assam. The Election Commission has ensured a three-tier security apparatus at the 331 counting halls across the state that voted in three phases on March 27, April 1 and April 6.

In Assam, the ruling BJP is in alliance with Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and United People's Party Liberal (UPPL), forming the 'Mitrajot'.

The Congress formed 'Mahajot' (Grand Alliance) with All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), Bodoland People's Front (BPF), Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M), Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) Liberation (CPI (ML)L), Anchalik Gana Morcha (AGM) and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).

Amit Shah: First phase of elections in Assam and WB show BJP victory

Asianet Newsable English — Sun, 28 Mar 2021 15:04:35 +0530

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said that BJP has gained a lot of ground after the first phase of polling in Assam and West Bengal.

"In the first phase, BJP is winning more than 26 out of 30 seats in West Bengal, winning seats with a strong majority. Our seats are also increasing and the margin of victory is also increasing. We have got clear indications that the BJP will win more than 37 seats out of 47 seats in Assam," he said.

Addressing media persons in New Delhi, Amit Shah thanked the people of both states for a high turnout in the first phase of the election.

"Politics of appeasement in West Bengal, mismanagement of Covid and Amphan cyclone relief. People thought Mamata will bring relief from decades of Left mismanagement. But only the party symbol and name changed, the mismanagement continued. The people of Bengal have accepted Prime Minister Modi's policies.

Amit Shah also thanked the Election Commission for holding a peaceful first phase of election in the two states.

The Union Home Minister also expressed confidence that the BJP will fulfil the 'Mission 200' (seats) in West Bengal and storm back to power in Assam.